News

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 25-31 March 2026 - National Ozone Officers, Customs Officers, Energy Efficiency Officers, and partner agencies from Pacific Island Countries convened in Port Moresby for three back-to-back regional training workshops on trade control, monitoring, and reporting of controlled substances and refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment.

Vienna, Austria, 15 April 2026 – The Montreal Protocol Dialogue on Action against Illegal Trade was organized by the UNEP OzonAction in cooperation with the UNEP Green Customs Initiative (GCI) Secretariat and hosted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on 15 April 2026 in Vienna, Austria.

Paris, France, 25 February 2026 - The global customs community once again demonstrated its commitment to environmental protection in light of World Customs Day 2026 celebrations (26 January 2026), with UNEP OzonAction spotlighting the voices of Customs Officers from different parts of the globe. Their professional journeys reflect the motivation and common challenges they face in enforcing the Montreal Protocol.

Luang Prabang, Lao PDR, 16–19 December 2025 — National Ozone Officers (NOOs) of Southeast Asia countries, together with Customs authorities, partner agencies, and international organizations, convened in Luang Prabang, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, for the Network Meeting of Southeast Asia National Ozone Officers back-to-back with the Twinning National Ozone Officer–Customs Workshop on Strengthening Enforcement of Trade Control of Controlled Substances under the Montreal Protocol.

              CUSTOMS AT THE FRONTLINE OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION                          Shared motivations, common challenges, and collective action 

Mombasa, Kenya, 17 November 2025 – From 10 to 12 November 2025, the World Customs Organization (WCO) organized a high-level workshop in Mombasa, Kenya, aiming to strengthen the capacity of Customs administrations in selected African countries to combat the illegal trade of environmentally sensitive goods, including ozone-depleting substances (ODS), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and hazardous and other wastes. The event was made possible thanks to the financial support of the China Customs Co-operation Fund (CCF-China).

Lomé, Togo – November 27, 2025 – From 25 to 27 November  2025, Lomé hosted a high-level regional workshop focused on the implementation of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, a landmark agreement aimed at reducing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)—potent greenhouse gases contributing to climate change.

Guangzhou, China, 10 November 2025 – UNEP OzonAction successfully convened an international training workshop titled “Good Servicing Practices for Cold Storage Applications and Safe Handling of Natural Refrigerants” in Guangzhou, China, from 4 to 7 November 2

Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, 23 October 2025 – The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) West Asia team, in collaboration with the National Ozone Unit (NOU) of the Sultanate of Oman under the Environment Authority, successfully concluded a national capacity building programme on refrigerant management and compliance with the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment.  

Nairobi, 6 November 2025 – The Ask an Expert sessions held during the Thirty-Seventh Meeting of the Parties (MOP-37) to the Montreal Protocol at UNEP Headquarters proved to be a highly successful initiative, offering participants personalized, practical one-on-one guidance on various aspects of implementing the Montreal Protocol. These interactive exchanges allowed attendees to engage directly with leading experts, clarify technical and policy-related questions, and deepen their understanding of key issues.

The 37th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MOP37) will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2025.In the margins of this event, UNEP OzonAction and its partners are hosting side-events showcasing how collaboration, innovation, and enforcement continue to drive the transition towards sustainable, efficient, and climate-friendly cooling:  1.  WORLD COLD CHAIN SYMPOSIUM 

Amman, Jordan, 28 May 2025 – The UNEP OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), West Asia Office, organized a training workshop for staff of the National Ozone Unit (NOU) and enforcement officers at the Ministry of Environment in Jordan. The workshop was conducted as part of UNEP’s Regional Network services to Article 5 countries in West Asia, and in its role as an Implementing Agency of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol.

INFORMATION NOTE: Green Customs - Free Trade Zones, Trans-shipment and Multilateral Environmental Agreements

17 April 2025, Paris, France – The ozone layer is not visible to the naked eye, and similarly, the enforcement of the Montreal Protocol often takes place behind the scenes, yet its impact is undeniable.

The Hague, the Netherlands, 20 February 2025 – UNEP OzonAction contributed to the discussion of customs related issues from the perspective of the implementation of the Montreal Protocol at the recently held 19th meeting of the Green Customs Initiative (GCI) from 19 to 20 February 2025 in the Hague, the Netherlands. The meeting was hosted by one of its partners, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). 

20-22 November 2024, Freetown, Sierra Leone – The National Ozone Unit and Customs Twinning Workshop & Border Dialogues for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and North Africa region took place at Sierra Palms Resort, Freetown, Sierra Leone from 20-22 November 2024.

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 15 November 2024 – UNEP OzonAction organized the Thematic Meeting for Ozone Officers of the Latin America Network from 13-15 November in Santo Domingo.  The event was designed to support the region’s countries in meeting their commitments under the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment.

Chennai, India, 24 – 27 September 2024 – UNEP’s OzonAction Asia-Pacific and West Asia Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) teams organized the Customs Border Dialogues.  

The Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Network implements enforcement–related activities since its inception in 2003 including regional enforcement meetings, border dialogues and a series of awards for Customs and Enforcement Officers. This year’s ECA network and enforcement meeting takes place in April 2024 in Tirana, Albania.

San Salvador, El Salvador, 16 April 2024 − During the week of March 22 to 28, a delegation from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), OzonAction Branch for Latin America carried out a successful mission in El Salvador.

Virtual Meeting, 13 – 14 December 2023 ‒ United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Asia Pacific Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team in collaboration with the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) developed guidelines for enforcing licensing systems for controlled substances, trained customs officials on using a coordinated approach to control trade and strengthened the enforcement of national regulations for the Pacific Island Countries (PICs).

4 December 2023, Paris/Brussels – The World Customs Organisation (WCO) has just announced another successful outcome for Operation DEMETER, a series of coordinated global enforcement actions that seek to intercept illegal shipments of ozone depleting substances (ODS) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hazardous wastes. These commodities are regulated respectively by the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.

Apia, Samoa, 4–9 September 2023 ‒ UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Asia Pacific Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team organized 1) a Network Meeting of Pacific Island Countries (PIC) National Ozone Officers (NOOs), 2) the Thematic Workshop on Nation-wide Data Collection under the Kigali Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) Implementation Plan (KIP) preparation, and 3) the Twinning National Ozone Officers - Customs Workshop on ODS/HFC Trade Control and Reporting.

Malé, Republic of the Maldives, 21–25 May 2023 – United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team in Asia and the Pacific organized a Network Meeting of South Asia (SA) National Ozone Officers (NOOs) and the Twinning National Ozone and Customs Officers Workshop on Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) / Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) Trade Control and Reporting. The Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology of the Maldives, H.E, Aminath Shauna, warmedy welcomed the participants to both meetings.