Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 15 November 2023 – The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) Caribbean Regional Team organized a Thematic Network Meeting of the National Ozone Officers (NOOs) from the English-speaking Caribbean and Haiti held back-to-back with a Regional Workshop for Women in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) from 14 to 15 November 2023 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
The network meeting, attended by 12 NOOs (comprised of 7 females and 5 males), facilitated the continued strengthening of cooperation within network countries in the region. It provided information on the current progress of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) phase-out and new commitments aimed at the hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) phase-down under the Kigali Amendment. New developments and current funding opportunities were also shared with the network to support their efforts towards the adoption of low global warming potential (GWP), climate-friendly, and energy-efficient technologies. Finally, the meeting used the opportunity to gather ideas and plans for the year 2024 to ensure the CAP team provided adequate and specific support.
Following the network meeting, the workshop for Women in RAC aimed to promote gender mainstreaming in the RAC sector, raise awareness of the latest RAC technology developments, provide hands-on demonstrations, and facilitate the sharing of experiences between the female RAC technicians in the Caribbean Network. The workshop also sought to provide NOOs with the information, knowledge, and resources necessary to comply with the obligations arising from the Montreal Protocol and its evolving commitments from the Kigali Amendment.
This workshop was attended by 24 participants, including 14 female RAC technicians from 11 countries, 12 NOOs, and representatives from UNEP OzonAction, the International Network of Women in Cooling (INWIC), the Multilateral Fund Secretariat, the Ozone Secretariat, GIZ Proklima, United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), European Commission and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.
Presentations, discussions, group work, and practical sessions, covering various topics such as the status of the RAC servicing sector in the countries, the gender mainstreaming policies under the Multilateral Fund, the challenges and opportunities for women in the RAC sector, the introduction to INWIC, and the good practices in refrigeration. The workshop also featured a practical demonstration of RAC servicing techniques which was organized through the kind support of the National Ozone Unit (NOU) of Trinidad and Tobago, ARIA Technical Institute Limited (ATI), and Trinidad & Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS). Demonstration techniques included the fitting and removal of gauges without loss of refrigerant, leak prevention, and detection procedures, system pressure testing with nitrogen, charging refrigerant as a vapour or a liquid, refrigerant identifier, recovery, recycling, and reclaim, working with zeotropic blends and hydrocarbon refrigerants.
The workshop culminated in a set of concrete actions and recommendations to be implemented by the participants, such as organizing women’s groups in RAC associations, conducting outreach campaigns and mentorship programs, enhancing gender mainstreaming in the Montreal Protocol projects, and strengthening the network and collaboration among the female RAC technicians in the region.
These activities were part of UNEP’s 2023 CAP work programme under the Montreal Protocol’s Multilateral Fund and in line with decision 84/92 of the Executive Committee and the gender mainstreaming policy of the Multilateral Fund. Importantly, it also contributed to the empowerment of women and the promotion of gender equality as per Sustainable Development Goal 5.
The network meeting and female workshop received positive feedback and appreciation from the participants, who expressed their gratitude and satisfaction with the knowledge and skills gained, the networking and experience-sharing opportunities, and the support and encouragement from the organizers and facilitators. The participants also expressed their interest and commitment to continue their involvement and contribution to the RAC sector and the Montreal Protocol implementation.
For more information:
Donnalyn Charles
Montreal Protocol Regional Coordinator, Caribbean
UNEP OzonAction
