Belize City, Belize, 19 November 2024 – The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), Latin America and the Caribbean team organized a Workshop for Youth in the Refrigeration Servicing Sector (RSS) in the English-Speaking Caribbean Region and Haiti in Belize City, Belize, from 18–20 November 2024.
The workshop was attended by 29 participants (15 men and 14 women) including National Ozone Officers and Youth Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) Technicians from the Caribbean Region.
Mrs. Donnalyn Charles, Caribbean Regional Coordinator, and Mrs. Cindy Cunil, National Ozone Officer, Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change officially opened the workshop and welcomed the participants. Mrs Cunil, in her opening statement, reaffirmed Belize’s support for OzonAction’s mandate.
The purpose of the workshop was to assist the 14 Caribbean countries of the region in achieving their 2025 67.5% HCFC (hydrochlorofluorocarbons) reduction target in maintaining the 2024 freeze in HFC (hydrofluorocarbons) consumption, engage young RAC technicians in the RAC Sector, and increase their participation, ensure the continuing engagement of the RSS in the Caribbean Region towards the effective implementation of the Montreal Protocol and enhance the capacity of countries to comply with the Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment obligations.
The workshop explored potential gender-based barriers that exist for young professionals in the sector and looked for solutions that can help attract more youth, both male and female.
The workshop also included an assessment component to determine the technical capacity of young RAC technicians, following the model of UNEP’s Refrigerant Driver’s License (RDL) Programme. The assessment was conducted by one of UNEP’s trained Assessors under the RDL and was held at the Belize Institute of Technical Vocational Education and Training (ITVET). Recommendations for improvement were received from the participants and training and other initiatives for future development and growth in the industry were incorporated into a Draft Pathway to Increase Participation of Youth in the RSS.
The Youth workshop was organized as part of UNEP OzonAction’s 2024 CAP Workplan under the Multilateral Fund for the implementation of the Montreal Protocol and was in response to the priorities of the region.
For more information:
Donnalyn Charles
Caribbean Montreal Protocol Regional Coordinator
UNEP OzonAction
