News

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Damascus, Syria, 19 August 2021 ‒ The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), West Asia Office, in cooperation with the National Ozone Unit (NOU) of the Syrian Arab Republic, Ministry of Local Administration and Environment, organized a successful two-day (17-18 July 2021) online training for technicians on Leak Detection, Safe handling of refrigerants and Good Practices and a Consultation Meeting for Stakeholders on the Development and Adoption of International Standards as part of their Country Programme to accomplish the tasks un

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.

Saudi Arabia, 16 July 2021 - The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), West Asia Office in association with its partners the National Ozone Unit (NOU) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the KSA-Customs Office, and in cooperation with the Philippines Ozone Desk organized a successful two-day (12-13 July 2021) online training for Customs Officers to accomplish the tasks under the HCFC Phase-Out Management Plan (HPMP) in Saudi Arabia.  It is worth noting that this was the first time the West Asia Network coordinated with the South

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.

Paris, 1 July 2021 ‒ Following the completion of a competitive recruitment process for the Head of OzonAction at the D-1 level, UNEP has appointed Mr. James (Jim) Curlin as Head of OzonAction. Jim’s career has progressively evolved since 1993 and has been centred on UNEP’s role as an Implementing Agency of the Montreal Protocol's Multilateral Fund.

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

Paris, France, 16 April 2021  ̶  For more than a decade, ASHRAE and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction have been working together to promote the adoption of state-of-the-art technologies and practices in developing countries that avoid or replace ozon

Bangkok, Thailand, 12 March 2021 ‒ National Ozone Officers from the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) – Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu – as well as representatives from the Government of Australia, a bilateral implementing agency, 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.

Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, 29 de enero 2021 ‒  El equipo para América Latina del Programa de Asistencia para el Cumplimiento, financiado mediante el Fondo Multilateral para la Aplicación del Protocolo de Montreal,  organizó el evento virtual «Ciencia del Ozono, Cambio Climático y COVID 19», presentado por el doctor José M. Rodríguez, físico experto en la disminución de ozono estratosférico de la Agencia Espacial de los Estados Unidos (NASA).

Ciudad del Saber, Panamá, 15 de enero de 2021 - Acción por el Ozono es un Organismo de Ejecución del Fondo Multilateral (mecanismo financiero del Protocolo de Montreal) que tiene como función fortalecer la capacidad de los gobiernos de los países en desarrollo para que puedan cumplir y mantener sus obligaciones de cumplimiento en virtud del Protocolo de Montreal.