News

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.

The following story from Senegal is an extract from the booklet 'Women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry." STORY BY SOKHNA FALL

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.

The following stories from Rwanda are extracts from the booklet 'Women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry." STORY BY VALARIE MUKANDAYISENGA

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.

The following story from Romania is an extract from the booklet 'Women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry." NINA STAN I can say, without being accused of lack of modesty, that I am a good engineer. I like what I do, I like the RAC sector, I like the challenges. I am a responsible person you can rely on. Already, I have said it all: I am a woman in the RAC sector - a field dominated by men.

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.

COUNTRIES CELEBRATING WORLD OZONE DAY AROUND THE GLOBE

The UNEP OzonAction Knowledge Maps tool was developed to provide, the National Ozone Units (NoUs) and different UNEP’s partners, with a simple tool to help them access data and information about relevant stakeholders, who are mainly involved in the implementation of programmes and projects under the Montreal Protocol (MP) supported by Multilateral Fund (MLF).

           

The following stories from the Philippines are extracts from the booklet 'Women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry."   RAQUEL DUMAYAS

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

The following stories from Peru are extracts from the booklet 'Women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry."   KARLA MAGDALENA ARGUEDAS SANCHEZ

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

The following stories from Papua New Guinea are extracts from the booklet 'Women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry."   JODIE-MARIE LAVU