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Bangkok, Thailand, 21 March 2022 – The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), Asia and the Pacific Office organized a virtual thematic workshop on the integration of Good Servicing Practices (GSP) into national Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Systems to promote a competency-based certification programme to continue efforts on knowledge and experience sharing among National Ozone Officers’ Networks of South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands Countries

The following stories from South Africa are extracts from the booklet 'Women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry."   STORY BY JOYCE CHIFAMBA Working in the HVAC industry was the best choice I ever made. Training in Zimbabwe was hard, but I managed to sail through. I had trainers who were so patient; I appreciate all their effort. I was taught to do all my jobs alone so that I didn’t have to depend on someone.

The following stories from Sierra Leone and Solomon Islands are extracts from the booklet 'Women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry."   STORY BY HANNAH I. KAMARA - SIERRA LEONE

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 Hydroc

Paris, 15 December 2021 ‒  Refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pumps (RACHP) is a broad sector that includes the installation, commissioning, maintenance, repair, servicing and decommissioning of both domestic and commercial refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment. This sector is essential for many aspects of modern life, including for example, protecting public health, helping ensure food safety, and providing comfortable and healthy working and living environments. Both women and men deliver these vital services and products to us on a daily basis.

                                             “Heat Pumps to Save the World” Label of the 52nd International HVACR Congress and Exhibition in Belgrade, Serbia, 1-3 December 2021Belgrade, 1-3 December 2021 - As part of Serbia’s HCFC phase-out management plan (HPMP), the

The following stories from Serbia are extracts from the booklet 'Women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry."   STORY BY NEVENA AKSIC

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, 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.

UNEP OzonAction would like to express its deepest sympathy and condolences for the passing of Dr. Charity Maeleera Kpabep, a refrigeration engineer from Nigeria, who worked with UNIDO as an expert for a Montreal Protocol project since 2019.

The following story from Senegal is an extract from the booklet 'Women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry." STORY BY SOKHNA FALL

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.

Doha, Qatar, 08 September 2021 ‒ The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), West Asia Office, in cooperation with the National Ozone Unit (NOU) of the Government of State of Qatar, Ministry of Municipality and Environment, organized a successful online technical workshop for Stakeholders on the Development and Adoption of International Standards, as part of the country’s efforts to accomplish the tasks under the Kigali Amendment Enabling Activities project.

Paris, France, 8 September 2021 ‒ With the world now in the midst of the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus continues to have multifaceted, intense, and far-reaching impacts on our societies in terms of lost lives, strained medical systems and disrupted economies. Part of the way we can save lives, protect our societies, and recover quickly is to follow expert guidance of the medical community, which includes physical distancing, wearing masks, keeping rooms well-ventilated, avoiding crowds, and cleaning our hands.

The following stories from Rwanda are extracts from the booklet 'Women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry." STORY BY VALARIE MUKANDAYISENGA

Bangkok, Thailand, 23 July 2021 – Sixteen participants (seven female and nine male) from seven Pacific Island Countries (PIC) joined a virtual meeting on 23 July 2021 to discuss the use of mandatory hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) cylinder labelling requirements to further enhance the enforcement of their national licensing systems. The meeting was hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), Asia and the Pacific Office.

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

Paris, 27 July 2021  ̶  The Global Food Cold Chain Council (GFCCC) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction announced the launch of their Cold Chain Database and Modelling initiative.  The initiative marks the first formal step to assist developing countries in identifying their cold chain baseline along with their consumption of relevant HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons) or HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) or other refrigerants.

Male, 2 July 2021  ̶  The Maldives has set an example for all developing countries by becoming the first to phase out hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and the first country ever to complete an HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) under the Montreal Protocol's Multilateral Fund.

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.

The following story from Romania is an extract from the booklet 'Women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry." NINA STAN I can say, without being accused of lack of modesty, that I am a good engineer. I like what I do, I like the RAC sector, I like the challenges. I am a responsible person you can rely on. Already, I have said it all: I am a woman in the RAC sector - a field dominated by men.

           

The following stories from the Philippines are extracts from the booklet 'Women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry."   RAQUEL DUMAYAS

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

The following stories from Peru are extracts from the booklet 'Women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry."   KARLA MAGDALENA ARGUEDAS SANCHEZ