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Bangkok, Thailand, 14 February 2022 – The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), Asia and the Pacific Office convened a virtual thematic workshop for National Ozone Officers from the Pacific Islands, South Asia and Southeast Asia Networks to further develop and advance the Asia Pacific Regional Ozone2Climate Art Contest.

Bangkok, 23 November 2021 - The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), in the Asia-Pacific Office, in collaboration with UNEP’s National Environmental Law Unit organized a thematic workshop on Strengthening Enforcement of National Montreal Protocol Legislations for National Ozone Unit (NOU) staff and Enforcement Officers of South Asia (SA), Southeast Asia (SEA), and the Pacific Island Countries (PIC).

Bangkok, 20 October 2021 ‒ On 20 October, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), Asia and the Pacific Office organized a thematic workshop on the Digitalization of Licensing and Quota Systems for National Ozone Unit (NOU) staff and Customs Officers of South Asia (SA), Southeast Asia (SEA), and the Pacific Island Countries (PIC). 104 participants (38 female and 66 male) from 23 regional countries and representatives from Australia and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) attended the meeting.

Beijing, 3 November 2021 ‒ China began officially implementing its hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) import and export licensing system as of 1 November 2021, one and a half months earlier than the date stipulated by the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, according to a recent announcement jointly made by China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) and the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

Bangkok, 14 October 2022 ‒ The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), Asia and the Pacific Office organized a virtual orientation workshop for 69 (32 female and 37 male) new National Ozone Officers (NOO) and other staff members of 24 National Ozone Units (NOUs) in two sessions consecutively on 12 and 14 October 2021.

Bangkok, Thailand, 24 September 2021 –  To support National Ozone Officers (NOOs) from the Regional Networks of  South Asia (SA), Southeast Asia (SEA), and Pacific Island Countries (PICs) in exchanging ideas on how to continue delivering approved activities under the Multilateral Fund in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), Asia and the Pacific Office organized three virtual network meetings consecutively on 17, 19 and 25 August 2021.

Thimphu, Bhutan, 4 October 2021 – With active local organization of the National Ozone Unit (NOU) of Bhutan, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), assisted Bhutan to deliver a four-day virtual training programme on Good Servicing Practices on low-GWP and flammable refrigerants. Eighty-seven participants (including 13 female technicians) from Bhutan and Asia-Pacific region attended the workshop between 28 June and 1 July 2021.

Bangkok, 16 September 2021 ‒ “How can our daily life contribute to the ozone layer protection?” Mr. Siwakorn Maneethein, a third-year student of Geological Sciences at the Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Thailand, enthusiastic about sustainable natural resources and environmental preservation shared his understanding of this significant question at a press conference of the launch of the Asia Pacific Ozone2Climate Art Contest on World Ozone Day, 16 September 2021.

Bangkok, Thailand, 2 August 2021 –  The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), Asia and the Pacific Office organized two virtual meetings on 27 and 28 July 2021, to assist National Ozone Officers from the Regional Networks of Ozone Officers for South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Pacific Island Countries to gain a better understanding of various mechanisms to employ for more accurate data collection and data

Bangkok, Thailand, 17 June 2021 –  The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), Asia and the Pacific Office organised a virtual meeting to assist National Ozone Officers from the Regional Networks of Ozone Officers for South Asia and Southeast Asia to explore different options for allocating and managing their country's hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) quota system to meet obligations under the Montreal Protocol's Kigali Amendment.

Bangkok, Thailand, 4 May 2021 – Most countries in the Asia and Pacific region are in Article 5 Group 1, as per the Kigali Amendment, and need to freeze hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) consumption at baseline level starting from 2024.  Moreover, the HFC phase-down will overlap with the ongoing HCFC (hydrochlorofluorocarbon) phase-out for most Article 5 countries.  To assist the South Asia (SA) and

Bangkok, Thailand, 10 March 2021 – Under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, all developing countries in Asia-Pacific are effectively phasing out their consumption of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) according to their international commitments.

Bangkok, Thailand, 25 November 2020 ‒ Article 5 countries continue to meet their obligations under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. However, they have been facing more challenges with the implementation of this treaty during the COVID-19 crisis. Starting from 1 January 2020, Article 5 countries must phase-out 35% of their hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) baseline consumptions from their HCFC consumption, in conjunction with the need to prepare themselves for the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) phase-down under the Protocol's Kigali Amendment.

The ozone layer in the stratosphere absorbs a portion of the sun radiation; therefore, ozone layer depletion has been linked to many harmful effects, including skin cancer, cataracts, and damage to some crops and marine life.

Bangkok, 18 August 2020 –  Accurate and timely data are the bedrock of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The data collected and reported by individual Parties to this multilateral environmental agreement are used for many purposes ranging from assessing a country's compliance to determining its eligibility for financial support.

Fill out the 2020 online nomination form here. Download the 2020 Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards Information note.

The raid is not like other police raids. No flashing lights and no breaking down doors. There is no cache of weapons to seize. But on a planetary scale, what the police came to confiscate is no less dangerous. On the outskirts of Vientiane, Lao Environment Police enter a nondescript shop selling refrigerators, rice cookers and other appliances, flanked by officials from the Pollution Control Department and the Department of Domestic Trade. They have been tipped off that the shop is likely selling smuggled refrigerants.

Bangkok, 24 December 2019   ̶  How well Ozone Officers and their teams do in their work – developing projects, managing national strategies, reporting data, developing and enforcing policies, working with national and international institutions – directly or indirectly affects the status of their country's compliance with its obligations under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

Cebu, 30 July 2019 — What policies and programmes have worked well for our countries under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer? What needs strengthening? How do we prepare ourselves to meet new commitments?

Bangkok, 1 July 2019 – National technical and vocational training holds one of the keys that can unlock the potential of one of the world’s most effective multilateral environmental agreements for even greater environmental achievements and labour force development. This was the theme behind a landmark workshop organised by UN Environment in Bangkok last week in which over 60 representatives from 21 countries across Asia gathered ahead of the 41st Meeting of Open-Ended Working Group of Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

Enforcement of HCFC Licensing Systems: Beyond the Customs Check-point Sharing examples of best practices from Lao PDR, Mongolia and the Federated States of Micronesia. 

Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 24 April 2019 — The General Directorate of Environment Protection, Ministry of Environment organized a national stakeholders meeting in Phnom Penh on 24 April 2019 on the implementation of the enabling activities for HFC phase-down. The meeting was supported by UN Environment’s OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP).  

BANGKOK, 19 October 2018 – Twenty-six Ozone and Customs Officers from nine countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia Networks attended a Twinning Workshop and back to back Parallel Border Dialogues, which was organised by UN Environment OzonAction from 17-19 October 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand.  

BANGKOK, 29 September 2018 — Following a successful training of new National Ozone Officers from the Pacific Island Countries, UN Environment OzonAction organized a similar training for Ozone Officers from South Asia and South East Asia. The two-day training, also conducted in Bangkok, Thailand was held from 28-29 September 2018.