Pacific Island Countries Network

The Pacific Island Countries (PICs) were formerly part of the South East Asia and the Pacific (SEAP) Network. In November 2008, at the 56th Meeting of the Executive Committee (ExCom) of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol, established a separate Regional Network for PICs in accordance with Decision 56/33 of the ExCom. With this decision, the PIC Network became the last regional network among nine regional networks established within the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP).

The PIC Network is composed of 14 Article 5 countries: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The Network is also supported by Australia, a developed country partner that has continuously provided valuable support to the Network.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Like other Article 5 countries, the PIC network countries have already phased out the consumption of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) since 2010. The PIC network countries have reduced their HCFC consumption at a much faster pace than their obligations under the Montreal Protocol. Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Nauru, and Niue committed to maintain zero HCFC consumption starting from 1 January 2021, while Papua New Guinea committed to phase out HCFC consumption from 1 January 2025 as part of their approved HCFC Phase-out Management Plan.

The total 2023 hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) consumption of all 14 PICs represents a 77% reduction from the total HCFC baseline level (average consumption in 2009-2010) compared to the 35% phase-out obligation.
Among these PICs, 8 countries comprising the Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Tonga, and Tuvalu reported zero HCFC consumption in 2022 and 2023.

The above demonstrates that the PICs not only accelerate HCFC phase-out but also sustain their HCFC phase-out achievements.

The PIC Network has a unique achievement that all 14 countries in the network have ratified the Kigali Amendment, following ratification of the Kigali Amendment by Papua New Guinea on 12 November 2024. This demonstrates the Network’s strong political commitment to the mitigation of climate change in solidarity with other countries.

HIGHLIGHTS

Network/Thematic meetings, Training, and other workshops: From 2023, the following regional/sub-regional events were successfully organized for the PIC in continuation with achievements previously built for the network.

2025

2023

Regional approach to deliver the Multilateral Fund projects:

This is a very unique and innovative implementation modality of the PIC network that implements the Multilateral Fund projects through the regional approach with the following advantages.

At the 95th Executive Committee Meeting in December 2024, the 13 PICs in collaboration with UNEP as the lead agency and Australia as the cooperating agency have successfully submitted 4 regional projects for HCFC Phase-out Management Plan Stage II Tranche 2, the Kigali HFC Implementation Plan Stage I, Energy Efficiency in Servicing Sector under Decision 89/6, and National Inventory of Banks of Used/Unwanted Controlled Substances. This has enabled the PICs to identify strategy and action plans of all projects in a holistic and complementary manner.
Collaboration with regional organizations in the region, such as the Airconditioning and Refrigeration Manufacturers Association (AREMA), the Oceania Customs Organization (OCO), the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), and the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) to avail their knowledge, expertise, and assist each PIC for the implementation of the Montreal Protocol;
It enabled the PICs to share experiences, good practices, and lessons learned with each other.

Strengthening ODS/HFC Trade Control:

Integrated approaches: The PIC network countries continue to adopt “integrated approaches” which utilize the existing mechanisms within the country, especially of the Customs Authority, to further strengthen the enforcement of the licensing system, while minimizing workloads to officers. These integrated approaches include harmonized system (HS) code, data reconciliation, risk profiling, post-clearance audit, and market inspection, etc. The integrated approaches supplement the training of customs and enforcement officers and expand coverage of enforcement beyond the customs checkpoint to strengthen enforcement of the ODS/HFC licensing system. Moreover, UNEP in collaboration with the Oceania Customs Organization (OCO) developed the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the Enforcement of Licensing System from beginning to the end of the enforcement chain. The SOP guides the enforcement authority on procedures to adopt to effectively enforce the licensing system.
Action plans to strengthen implementation and enforcement of the licensing system: All 14 PICs have developed their country action plan that identifies challenges and actions to strengthen implementation and enforcement of the licensing system, in particular HFC trade control, which is more complex than HCFC control. The action plan includes 3 aspects: (i) quota and linkage with license/permit, (ii) license/permit procedures, and (iii) data monitoring, reconciliation, and reporting.
HFC quota allocation criteria: The growing number of HFC importers increased the workload of the NOOs to manage licenses and quotas for HFC trade. The PIC network has unique circumstances due to low consumption levels - importers might be one-time importers, and new importers might apply quotas from the government. Some PICs have developed a transparent, rules-based HFC quota system to replace past unclear allocation practices that created enforcement challenges. To address past unclear allocation practices that created enforcement challenges, some PICs have introduced transparent, rules-based HFC quota systems. The revised approach focuses on establishing clear HFC quota allocation criteria, including definitions, eligibility requirements, and allocation rules. This aims to strengthen fairness, build trust with importers, and ensure alignment with Kigali Amendment phase-down targets.
Importers and customs brokers training: PIC network countries continue to educate importers and customs brokers to be aware of the implications of misdeclaration and build their capacity to accurately declare description, HS codes, and country of origin during the customs clearance process. This initiative helps to address misdeclaration/incomplete declaration of ODS/HFC shipments, which undermines effective data monitoring and reconciliation.
Informal Prior-informed Consent (iPIC): PIC network countries voluntarily adopted the iPIC mechanism to confirm the legitimate trade of controlled substances under the Montreal Protocol.

Servicing Sector: Given that HCFC and HFC consumption in the PICs are only used in the servicing sector, PIC network countries have strengthened capacity building of servicing technicians to minimize the leakage of controlled substances and to safely adopt new alternatives through the following approaches:

Policy options: Most PIC network countries have regulations to manage the Refrigeration and Air-conditioning (RAC) servicing sector through a technician license for handling refrigerants, which is a critical mechanism to ensure that only competent technicians are allowed to install and service RAC equipment.
Sustaining capacity building of the servicing sector: PIC network countries continue to implement measures to sustain capacity building of the servicing sector through good servicing practices training and competency-based certification to ensure that they have competent skills for installation and servicing of appliances through:
- Institutionalizing good servicing practices into the national training curriculum and certification programmes of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) authority for students in formal education.
- Development of competency-based training and certification programme with recognized prior-learning (RPL) to recognize skilled and experienced technicians for existing technicians in the country.

Energy efficiency in the servicing sector: PIC network countries are working closely with their energy officers to implement energy efficiency of refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) appliances while phasing out HCFCs and phasing down HFCs in the servicing sector. This is supported by financial assistance from the Multilateral Fund and focuses on:

exploring opportunities for end-user incentive programmes with national/regional financial institutions,
integrating a dedicated energy efficiency module into existing training on good servicing practices,
enhancing the level of Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and strengthening product registration and approval of the MEPS,
building the capacity of NOOs, energy officers, customs, and enforcement officers for MEPs implementation and enforcement;
Conducting awareness and outreach activities.

National Inventory and Life-cycle Management of Used/Unwanted Controlled Substances under the Montreal Protocol: PIC network countries are implementing the National Inventory of Banks of Used/Unwanted Controlled Substances under the Montreal Protocol to understand the potential banks and the amount of used/unwanted controlled substances. This data will be used to develop appropriate options, business models, policy recommendations, and action plans to assist each country in implementing sustainable life-cycle management of used/unwanted controlled substances.

South-South Cooperation: The PIC Network has maintained very good south-south cooperation initiatives, in particular, working attachments to experienced National Ozone Units (NOUs). Through close collaboration with NOUs/countries that have extensive experience on specific issues, new NOUs could quickly update their knowledge and skills required for the day-to-day management of the work related to the Montreal Protocol. UNEP facilitated other types of south-south cooperation, such as sending a resource person from one country to assist another in delivering training on good practices and customs, and enforcement.

Gender Mainstreaming: The PIC Network has included gender mainstreaming into the Montreal Protocol implementation, such as gender data collection, gender awareness-raising, and gender promotion activities, and set gender promotion as one of the targets in the activities where possible. Agenda items on gender mainstreaming have been included in the PIC Network Meeting to provide an update to the network countries.

FUTURE OBJECTIVES

While all PICs are in compliance with obligations under the Montreal Protocol, there is a high risk of potential non-compliance due to the very low consumption. A very small margin of error for quota allocation, management, and reporting on the trade of controlled substances can have serious implications for compliance. There has been a high turnover of National Ozone Officers in the PIC network, and it is essential to explore how to build and maintain institutional memory to ensure the continuity of the National Ozone Unit's work when a new National Ozone Officer is recruited.

UNEP OzonAction, through CAP, is supporting PIC network countries in complying with two parallel obligations: phasing out HCFC consumption and phasing down HFC consumption. To address the emerging needs of PIC network countries, the focus areas in the PIC network are:

Building and maintaining institutional memory: Provide training through training of not only the new National Ozone Officer but also assistants to the National Ozone Officer through UNEP CAP training course, mentoring, and sharing the knowledge of more experienced ozone officers with their peers.
Streamlining Montreal Protocol implementation for parallel HCFC phase-out and HFC phase-down obligations: Support the PIC network countries to determine an innovative approach and review strategy/action to effectively manage HFC phase-down in conjunction with HCFC phase-out in a holistic manner to avoid reinventing the wheel and duplication of intervention.
Data monitoring, reconciliation and reporting: Provide support to enhance the modus operandi of controlling, collecting, analyzing, and reconciling import statistics and implement more enhanced cooperation between importers, National Ozone Unit, Customs Officers, and other national statistic bodies.
Enforcement of ODS/HFC licensing and quota system: Provide guidance and support on streamlining licensing and quota system procedures and strengthening enforcement of the licensing and quota system, legislation, and regulations, given that national authorities have more substances to control under the Kigali Amendment.
Management of Refrigeration and Air-conditioning (RAC) and Mobile Air-conditioning (MAC) Servicing Sector: Support PIC network countries to engage and manage both RAC and mobile air-conditioning (MAC) sectors based on each country’s context, especially the urgent need to engage the MAC sector, which is a newly identified sector under the Kigali Amendment, in all countries.
Integrating ODS/HFC control into post-disaster management: PICs are also Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) and vulnerable to Climate Change. Due to the impact of climate change, the PIC countries have experienced frequent and intense cyclones in recent years. The impact of these cyclones can result in damage to infrastructure. Countries must integrate ODS/HFC control and adoption of low-GWP and energy-efficient policy into post-disaster planning and actions to ensure compliance when having to replace damaged RAC equipment.
HCFC Phase-out and HFC Phase-down in Fisheries Sector: As one of the main economic sectors in some PICs, this sector highly relies on R-404A, a very high GWP HFC, while a small number of the fleets rely on HCFC-22, which must be phased out in the next 4 years. Due to the long lifetimes of fisheries vessels, there is a need to support countries in developing policies, providing technical assistance, and implementing awareness measures to ensure compliance with future HCFC phase-out and HFC phase-down obligations.
Energy Efficiency and Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS): Support the PIC Network countries to integrate a dedicated energy efficiency module in the existing training on good servicing practices and to enhance enforcement mechanism of MEPS of RAC equipment on product registration and approval, control at the customs check point and market surveillance beyond the customs check point based on experience of trade control of substances in bulk and RAC equipment.
National Inventory and Life-cycle Management of Used/Unwanted Controlled Substances under the Montreal Protocol: Provide support to countries to understand potential inventories of banks of used or unwanted controlled substances and to develop appropriate options, business models, policy recommendations, and action plans to assist each country in implementing sustainable life-cycle management of used/unwanted controlled substances.
Gender mainstreaming: Build the capacity of PIC network countries to assess gender mainstreaming and identify an entry point to integrate gender into the Montreal Protocol implementation workstream.

THE PIC NETWORK OF NATIONAL OZONE OFFICERS

REGIONAL CONTACTS

Mr Pipat Poopeerasupong
Montreal Protocol Regional Coordinator - Southeast Asia & Pacific Island Countries
UNEP, Law Division, OzonAction

OzonAction CAP team for Asia and Pacific