UNEP Ozonaction CAP Achievements 2014 CONTENTS
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
UNEP OzonAction CAP Achievements 2014 CONTENTS Foreword 3 Introduction 4 Significant Achievements 5 Regional Network Updates 17 Lessons Learnt and Challenges Faced 34 3 Foreword It has been a challenging year. Conflicts new forms of technical partnerships in north, west, and central Africa, and such as setting up ‘inter-networks for in the Middle East and the post-conflict co-operation’, network twinning and situations in certain Asian countries promoting south-south cooperation. placed further demands on the UNEP In looking to the future technical OzonAction Compliance Assistance expertise and practice-oriented tools Programme (CAP) staff in delivering timely were developed. Continued efforts will be and appropriate assistance. However, made to improve the quality and topical UNEP CAP strived to respond to these relevance of CAP capacity-building tools challenges and bring to bear its expertise and publications. on the multitude of cross-cutting issues facing the implementation of the HCFC Phase-out Management Plans (HPMP) by In addressing training and certification its partners in developing countries. of refrigeration technicians, an in depth national/regional analysis is being conducted to ascertain the long-term This year, UNEP engaged 148 developing sustainability of training programmes, countries in implementing 389 ongoing institutionalisation of training activities Multilateral Fund projects, delivering and to identify barriers and incentives. 372 compliance assistance services, and supporting various other projects and services. Significant efforts have also been made to bring on board the necessary partnerships for an effective, holistic HCFC phase-out. Around 120 countries were directly served However, this has to be reflected at the by UNEP-implemented projects. Among national level through capacity-building them are very large countries (e.g. China and engagement of the NOUs and and India) and very small countries (e.g. governments. CAP will pursue its efforts Niue) , and included 48 classified as ‘Least and widen the scope and outreach to Developed Countries’ (LDCs), 38 classified forge new partnerships essential for the as Small Island Developing States (SIDS), phase-out and climate co-benefits. and several countries facing post-conflict, post-disaster or political issues. CAP has undertaken various initiatives to give a fresh impetus to compliance assistance and cooperation. These Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, initiatives involved convening groups of Head of OzonAction communities of practice, technicians and National Ozone Officers (NOO); exploring 4 Introduction UNEP DTIE OzonAction assists developing countries and countries with economies in transition (CEITs) to achieve and sustain compliance with the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. It implements over 1,000 projects and services that benefit more than 120 developing countries and seven CEITs. UNEP, in its capacity as an implementing agency of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol, and through its Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), enables countries to make informed decisions about alternative technologies and ozone-friendly policies. Bilateral support obtained through partnerships with agencies and governments such as the Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Sweden has allowed UNEP to further undertake specific projects with developing countries. SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS 6 A Climate View On 20 September 2014, The Economist with the same unity of purpose as we published a global comparison of carbon have in facing the dangers of ozone mitigation efforts, ranking the top 20 depletion. This reasoning inspired the policies and courses of action according theme for 2014 International Day for the to the quantities of greenhouse gases Preservation of the Ozone Layer, which reduced. The Montreal Protocol emerged was: “Ozone Layer Protection: The Mission at the top of the list with cumulative Goes On”. emission reductions of 135 billion tonnes of CO equivalent between 1989 and 2 In many ways, this theme also resonates 2013. Its annual emission reduction of with the work of UNEP OzonAction. In 5.6 billion tonnes of CO equivalent were 2 2014, UNEP strived to respond to the twice as much as the next highest policy/ many needs of National Ozone Officers action, which was hydropower. (NOOs) and governments as they prepare for the 2015 reduction step in the This incidental but substantial climate- consumption and production of HCFC benefit resulted from the fact that many and final phase-out of methyl bromide. ozone depleting substances (ODS) are OzonAction has provided networking also powerful greenhouse gases. As support and expertise on many cross- climate change impacts communities, cutting issues connected to the HCFC economies, and ecosystems everywhere, phase-out management plans (HPMPs) by it is essential to mitigate this threat partners in developing countries. 7 Regional Networks The Regional Networks of National Ozone Units (NOUs) are a path-breaking mechanism for North-South and South-South cooperation developed and used by UNEP OzonAction. Networking allows NOUs from Article 5 countries to exchange experiences, develop their skills and learn from the expertise of their peers in both developing and developed countries. Conducted at the regional level, this Networking builds the Ozone Officers’ skills for implementing and managing their national ODS phase-out activities. In practical terms, networking entails: • Annual regional meetings (usually a main network meeting and a thematic meeting for each region); • Regular communication between UNEP and the Ozone Officers to provide information and assistance in resolving any difficulties; • Thematic and technical capacity-building group meetings; • Country-to-country cooperation; • Technical assistance for ODS phase-out. OzonAction operates 10 sub-regional Networks which, between them, cover 148 developing countries and 12 developed countries: - Africa (English Speaking and French Speaking); - Europe and Central Asia; - Latin America (Caribbean, Central America, South America); - Asia and the Pacific (Pacific Island Countries, South Asia, South-East Asia); - West Asia. 8 Key Achievements UNEP CAP’s main focus is on providing new forms of technical partnerships, technical support to NOUs for the timely such as setting up ‘inter- networks for implementation of their HPMPs. It is the co-operation’ (NETWIN, which stands for lead agency for HPMPs in 71 countries Network Twinning and promoting the and the cooperating agency in another 28 South-South cooperation). countries, covering almost 100 countries. CAP also assists 103 Article 5 countries in All efforts under CAP were concentrated institutional strengthening projects. on the implementation of the ExCom- endorsed UNEP CAP business plan. Within the framework of the Montreal Expertise was provided to National Ozone Protocol, in 2014, CAP has sought to Officers and Parties to formulate, revise reaffirm its specific nature and has and update policies necessary for the taken steps to give a fresh impetus to HCFC phase-out. compliance assistance and cooperation. This has taken the shape of convening groups of communities of practice, technicians and NOOs; and exploring Unwanted ODS disposal in Nepal Demonstrating how unwanted ODS can be disposed safely and cost-effectively in collaboration with the private sector, leveraging state-of-the-art technologies, operational systems, and when the credits are ultimately sold, carbon finance. Launch of SEAP national Master Trainer workshop in Good practices in Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Servicing Sector 10 Clearinghouse function CAP seeks to raise awareness and and Its Challenges promote evidence-based policymaking • OzonAction Special Issue 2013 - A through a number of information Healthy Atmosphere: the Future We Want products. The videos and publications • OzonAction Special Issue 2014 – New on HCFC represent major efforts and Responsibilities under the HCFC Phase- successful mobilisation of international, out regional and national cooperation with the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning • OzonAction Publications Catalogue 2014 (RAC) sector stakeholders, including • Cooling without warming our planet technicians. (video available in English, Spanish and Portuguese). Last year was a productive period in terms • The Arctic and the Ozone Layer: of the clearinghouse function: Stabilising Our Environment and Climate (video) • Evaluated and revised the clearinghouse function and strategy. • Re-enforced cross networking activities UNEP also launched new publications between the 10 sub-regional networks with Environment Ministers at the for exchange of technical information, Meeting of the Parties: global publications and capacity-building • “Achievements and Highlights: 10th tools addressing needs and common Anniversary of the Regional Ozone challenges for all Article 5 countries. Network for Europe and Central Asia” • Translated all executive summaries of • “National Ozone Officers Guide” publications into all official UN languages. • “Putting a Face to Ozone Layer • Designed a new concept of ‘putting a Protection in Africa” face to the ozone layer’, in a bid to raise • “Good Practices in the air-conditioning awareness of the adverse effects of ODS sector” on the environment and health and revive • “Financing the Climate Co-benefits of political commitments for the accelerated the HCFC Phase-out” HCFC phase-out. This included the