News

The Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Network implements enforcement–related activities since its inception in 2003 including regional enforcement meetings, border dialogues and a series of awards for Customs and Enforcement Officers. This year’s ECA network and enforcement meeting takes place in April 2024 in Tirana, Albania.

San Salvador, El Salvador, 16 April 2024 − During the week of March 22 to 28, a delegation from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), OzonAction Branch for Latin America carried out a successful mission in El Salvador.

11 April 2024  – UNEP Law Division OzonAction’s Europe and Central Asia (ECA) network successfully organized its 33rd online meeting on 20 March 2024 , on the topic “ENERGY EFFICIENCY PILOT PROJECTS IN MOTION – the why, how, who and when.” The meeting focused on the Multilateral Fund Secretariat’s funding window for energy-efficiency pilot projects.

The Maldives became the world's first developing country to stop using hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) thanks to Miruza Mohamed. How did Miruza lead such victory 10 years ahead of the planned schedule? Let’s get inspired. Female leadership to groundbreaking transition

Leading Change in Environmental Communication and Women's Empowerment

Her dedication to fostering opportunities for women in the Heating, Ventilation, Air- Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) sector shines through her role in INWIC, a platform described by Colleen Keyworth as "a match made in heaven" for her passion.

En el mundo de la conservación ambiental y el manejo de productos químicos y desechos peligrosos, ha destacado no solo por su profundo conocimiento técnico y liderazgo, sino también por su compromiso con la igualdad de género.

In the field of environmental science and policy, Marta Pizano has played a pivotal role as a Co-chair of the Montreal Protocol's Technical and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP).

The world’s environment has been protected by a series of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs).

A leader in environmental protection under the Montreal Protocol, with more than 30 years of experience in the United Nations that culminates with a well-deserved retirement.

Your air-con breaks down and you call for a technician but to your surprise, a female technician shows up at your doorstep with her toolbox!   This is becoming a common practice in Zambia! Meet Sarah Nakanyika a female Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning (RAC) technician and pioneer of women-empowerment in the RAC sector in Zambia. Impacts of female leadership

Au Bénin, l’abandon progressif des substances appauvrissant la couche d’ozone a non seulement contribué à protéger la couche d’ozone pour les générations actuelles et futures mais a aussi renforcé la communauté internationale dans sa lutte contre les changements climatiques.

Today, on the occasion of International Women's Day (IWD), UNEP OzonAction would like to express our best wishes and sincere thanks to all our female colleagues working in National Ozone Units for your leadership, outstanding dedication, great intellectual input, and tireless work on the Montreal Protocol! This treaty is often referred to as the most successful multilateral environmental agreement to date, and both women and men take equal credit in making this amazing achievement possible.

Panama City, 2 February 2024 – The UNEP OzonAction Branch marked the successful conclusion of its pivotal workshop titled ‘Enhancing Communication for Effective Global Compliance with the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment’ held in Panama City on 24-26 January 2024.

Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 22 February 2024 – UNEP’s OzonAction Asia-Pacific Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team organized the Thematic Meeting on Establishment and Implementation of Competency-Based Certification, back-to-back with the Thematic Workshop on Strategy of Stage I of the Kigali HFC Implementation Plan (KIP) and Integration with the HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) Stage II among the Pacific Island Countries (PICs).  Both meetings were held in Rarotonga, Cook Islands from 7-10 February 2024.

Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 12 February 2024 – UNEP’s OzonAction Asia-Pacific Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team organized the Twinning Workshop for the Pacific Island Countries (PIC) Montreal Protocol Officers, Energy-Efficiency Policy Makers, and Financial Mechanisms Focal Points to Support Kigali Amendment Objectives.

Chicago, USA (January 22, 2024) – UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction and ASHRAE have an ongoing collaboration spanning almost two decades to help developing countries manage an environmentally-responsible, smooth and safe transition to new refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump (RACHP) technologies and practices in support of the goals set by the Montreal Protocol and the Paris Climate Accord:  replacing ozone depleting substances (ODS), promoting lower global warming potentials (GWPs), and enhancing energy efficiency.

New Qualification Programme for Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Technicians: Refrigerant Driving License available for use by National Ozone Units

UNEP OzonAction is pleased to exhibit on a weekly basis the 36 winning pieces of art from the 2022 “Asia Pacific Regional Ozone2Climate Art Contest”.  The 3rd place winners in the Youth Photography category are displayed below. 

Virtual Meeting, 13 – 14 December 2023 ‒ United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Asia Pacific Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team in collaboration with the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) developed guidelines for enforcing licensing systems for controlled substances, trained customs officials on using a coordinated approach to control trade and strengthened the enforcement of national regulations for the Pacific Island Countries (PICs).

Melbourne, Australia 11 – 15 December 2023 ‒ United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Asia Pacific Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team in collaboration with the Government of Australia and the Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturers Association of Australia (AREMA) jointly organized the Second Training-the-Trainers Workshop on Good Servicing Practices (GSP) in Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning (RAC) Sector.

Dubai, UAE, 5 December 2023 − In a world grappling with a surge in cooling demand, particularly in high ambient temperature (HAT) countries, the intricate interplay between rising living standards, escalating temperatures, and the imperative for efficient cooling technologies has emerged as a critical concern. The escalating global demand for cooling brings forth the daunting challenge of simultaneously mitigating its environmental impact.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 28 – 30 November 2023 ‒ UNEP’s OzonAction Asia-Pacific Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team, in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Ministry of Environment and Water of Malaysia, organized a three-day workshop that aimed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge to become effective master assessors of good servicing practices in the refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) servicing sector.

Dubai, UAE, 4 December 2023 − In a groundbreaking event during the COP-28 from the Montreal Protocol Pavilion entitled "You can't be what you can't see – What can INWIC do for Women in Cooling", several Montreal Protocol partners and stakeholders gathered to discuss the challenges and opportunities for women in the Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning, and Heat-pumps (RACHP) industry.

4 December 2023, Paris/Brussels – The World Customs Organisation (WCO) has just announced another successful outcome for Operation DEMETER, a series of coordinated global enforcement actions that seek to intercept illegal shipments of ozone depleting substances (ODS) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hazardous wastes. These commodities are regulated respectively by the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.