2 October 2025, Cairo, Egypt – UNEP OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) in West Asia and Africa, in collaboration with the League of Arab States (LAS), convened two consecutive meetings in Cairo aimed at supporting regional efforts under the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment. These included (1) a Coordination Meeting of Ozone Officers (Ozone Arab Team) and (2) a Technical Meeting with the Arab Building Codes Committee.
Hosted at the Kempinski Nile Hotel from September 30 to October 2, 2025, the meetings brought together National Ozone Units from West Asia and Arab countries in Africa, along with representatives of the Arab Building Codes Committee, as well as regional resource persons. The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation, reviewing progress in implementing Montreal Protocol projects, and exploring ways to align technical standards and building codes with evolving obligations under the Montreal Protocol.
The Coordination Meeting of Ozone Officers provided a space for countries to share experiences, highlight achievements, and discuss common challenges in phasing out ozone-depleting substances and transitioning to safer alternatives. The Technical Meeting with the Arab Building Codes Committee explored opportunities to integrate Montreal Protocol considerations into regional unified building codes, particularly in the refrigeration, air-conditioning, and foam sectors.
Participants emphasized the importance of harmonizing codes and standards to ensure the safe use of low-GWP refrigerants, many of which require updated safety and performance guidelines. Countries such as Egypt, Iraq, and Bahrain presented national initiatives that could serve as useful references for others in the region.
Mr. Khaled Klaly, Montreal Protocol Regional Coordinator for West Asia, noted: "These meetings reflect the region’s continued commitment to environmental protection and cooperation. By working together, we can support more effective implementation and build stronger technical foundations."
The meetings, funded by the Multilateral Fund, were part of ongoing efforts to promote regional coordination and capacity-building in support of the Montreal Protocol.
For more information:
Khaled Klaly
UNEP Montreal Protocol Regional Coordinator, West Asia
Image by UNEP OzonAction West Asia
UN Environment Programme is an Implementing Agency of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol. OzonAction is part of UN Environment Programme's Law Division and serves 147 developing countries through the Compliance Assistance Programme.