Damascus, Syria, 31 January 2022 ‒ The UNEP OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) in West Asia, in cooperation with the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment of the Syrian Arab Republic, organized a physical workshop in Damascus on 18 January to present the outcomes of the Kigali Enabling Activities project that was completed in 2021, to initiate the preparation of the national Kigali Implementation Plan (KIP) to phase down Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and to launch the implementation of the Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) for Syria. These projects, which are financed by the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol, are designed to assist the country to meet its compliance obligations under this multilateral environmental agreement.
In his opening statement, Mr. Khaled Klaly, UNEP Montreal Protocol Regional Coordinator for West Asia, highlighted the importance of organizing the event despite the difficult times of the pandemic which demonstrated the confirmed will of Syria to keep pace with the Montreal Protocol and implement approved projects efficiently. Subsequently Eng. Rowaida Al-Nahar, Director, Environmental Safety, Ministry of Local Administration and Environment, Syria, thanked UNEP and the Multilateral Fund for the great support to facilitate the full compliance of Syria with the provisions and targets under the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment.
The event included an active presence of 53 participants (18 female, and 35 male) from the relevant authorities in Syria from the public and private 
sectors, educational and training institutions, the General Directorate of Syrian Customs, and the Engineers Association. Also present at the workshop were invited representatives from the National Ozone Unit in the Republic of Iraq who joined to exchange experiences and lessons learned throughout the long journey in implementing the Montreal Protocol.
During the workshop, the national plan for Syria’s full compliance with the Montreal Protocol was reviewed, including the country’s new obligations for HFCs following its ratifications of the Kigali Amendment in April 2021. Subsequently, the results of the Enabling Activities project and the first tranche of the national HPMP for Syria were presented.
Also presented and explained was the updated ozone depleting substance bylaws regulating the import, export, and handling of controlled substances under the Montreal Protocol and related equipment, followed by an interactive discussion session between Syria and Iraq on experience and knowledge sharing.
The workshop which was moderated by Eng. Rowaida Al-Nahar and Mr. Khaled Klaly, as part of the regional OzonAction CAP work plan for 2022 to support countries in meeting and sustaining their Montreal Protocol commitments.
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Khaled Klaly
Montreal Protocol Regional Coordinator, West Asia
UNEP OzonAction
E-mail: Khaled.klaly[at]un.org
