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 ozone depleting substances and that also have lower global warming potentials. The two international bodies also promote techniques that help eliminate emissions of refrigerant gases during servicing of refrigeration and air-conditioning applications.
ASHRAE is the largest engineering society in the world focusing on the advancement of the refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) sector and has more than 55,000 members and 211 chapters worldwide. UNEP is an Implementing Agency of the Montreal Protocol’s Multilateral Fund, and OzonAction assists 147 developing countries to meet and sustain their compliance obligations under the treaty.
ASHRAE and UNEP released their joint workplan for 2021-2023 under the theme ‘Refrigeration Management for Developing Economies.’ The new workplan is a continuation of long-standing cooperation between both entities to expand the use of ASHRAE-UNEP tools designed to support developing countries in upgrading their capacities and knowledge about the global refrigerant transition and related sustainable technologies.
The services being delivered under this workplan are even more critical than ever as countries simultaneously phase out hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) refrigerants under their current Montreal Protocol obligations and prepare to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in accordance with the new Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.
The ASHRAE-UNEP cooperation includes a package of products to support the needs of diverse stakeholders in developing countries, such as the e-Learning courses covering three different courses and released over the last few years: Refrigerant Literacy (available in English, French and Spanish), Sound Management of Refrigerants, and Energy Efficiency Literacy for Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Systems. The package also includes a Refrigerant Management University (academic) Course, Lower-GWP Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Innovation Award, factsheets, and many past technical and specialized conferences and events jointly organized over the last decade to support the emerging needs of developing countries.
All ASHRAE-UNEP products and services included in the joint workplan are offered free-of-charge and are accessible to National Ozone Units and RAC sector stakeholders in developing countries through the ASHRAE-UNEP Portal.
The workplan is aligned with the objectives in UNEP's 2021-2023 Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) Strategy under the Multilateral Fund.
The link to ASHRAE’s press release - ASHRAE and UN Environment Programme Launch Three-Year Workplan
For more information:
Ayman Eltalouny
International Partnerships Coordinator
UN Environment Programme – OzonAction, Law Division
ayman.eltalouny[at]un.org
