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 publications: “Regional Highlights: Putting a Face to Ozone Layer Protection” and a CAP reinforced the role for capacity specific example of ‘Putting a Face to the building in light of new responsibilities Ozone Layer Protection in Africa’ under HCFC phase-out and mandate on compliance assistance, and produced a record number of capacity-building Technical and information materials tools for compliance, either alone or in During this cycle, UNEP reviewed and cooperation with partners or industry: produced high quality documents, both • “Ozone Depleting Substances technical and information materials Smuggling and Concealment Case Study specifically targeting National Ozone Handbook (with Interpol)” Officers and RAC technicians. Notable information materials included: • “Illegal trade in ODS” (video) (with Environmental Investigation Agency) • Phasing-out Methyl Bromide in Developing Countries: A Success Story • “Enforcement Strategies for Combating 11

the Illegal Trade in HCFCs and Methyl • “HCFC phase-out in the refrigeration Bromide” (with IGSD) and air-conditioning servicing sectors” • “Training Manual for Customs Officers: • Scientific side-event on Arctic ozone Saving the Ozone Layer - Phasing depletion (with representatives of out Ozone Depleting Substances in Scientific Assessment Panel (SAP), World Developing Countries - Third Edition” Meteorological Organization (WMO), • “Informal Prior-Informed Consent governments of Norway and Czech (iPIC): Supporting Compliance through Republic and launched a documentary prevention of illegal and unwanted trade in the Arctic scientific side event in in ozone depleting substances” cooperation with Norway “The Arctic and the Ozone Layer: Stabilizing • “Low-GWP Alternatives in Commercial Our Environment and Climate” with Refrigeration: Propane, CO and HFO 2 UNEP Ozone Secretariat and World Case Studies” (for Climate and Clean Air Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Coalition - CCAC) • “Methyl bromide phase-out: the final • “UNEP Guide for National Ozone countdown (pending issues, valuable Officers” experiences and a way forward)” • Update of “E-Learning Module for • “International standards in refrigeration Customs Officers” and air-conditioning: their importance in • “International Standards in Refrigeration the HPMP process” and Air-conditioning: An introduction • “Challenges, Successes of HCFC to their role in the context of the HCFC Demonstration Projects under the phase-out in developing countries” Multilateral Fund” • “How Montreal Protocol Protects Side-events at OEWG and MOP Health” organised: • “The sustainability of methyl bromide phase-out” in cooperation with UNDP, UNIDO and World Bank

Caribbean launch standards initiative in refrigeration servicing sector 12 Cross-fertilisation between networks and the regions:

Cross-fertilisation between networks and innovative means of cooperation between the regions marked programme delivery countries and regions for the certification in 2014: of RAC technicians. This South-South • The instability in North Africa resulted in cooperation aims to encourage peers to a multitude of challenges for the CAP ROA exchange experiences/ideas on setting- to implement HCFC and methyl bromide up and operating certification systems phase-out projects in the region. UNEP for servicing technicians to reduce the established the first ‘twinning’ partnership consumption of HCFCs during equipment between North African countries (Tunisia, servicing. Egypt, Libya, Algeria and Morocco) and • The South-South cooperation among the West Asia team in Bahrain. The first the South-East Asia countries is joint meeting between Ozone Officers exemplary: the capacity of new Ozone from the West Asia Network and certain Officers of Brunei was built through North African countries addressed key having been trained via a cooperation challenges (e.g. access to technology, framework with Malaysia; Indonesia training in handling natural refrigerants supported Timor Leste for the delivery and partnerships in the HCFC phase-out). of customs training and a good practices The resulting partnerships will expedite training workshops; Cambodia assisted the process of the HCFC phase-out in Myanmar on HPMP implementation; North Africa. Singapore provided support to the • Cooperation was established between Philippines on capacity building of methyl countries in West Asia, English-speaking bromide officers; Timor Leste is facing Africa, South-East Asia and Eastern similar challenges as those faced by the and Central European countries on PICs in HPMP management, hence, the approaches and challenges faced towards Timor Leste NOO is providing specific reaching a successful phase-out of methyl assistance to PICs in this regard through bromide. The First Global Policy and participation in the PICs thematic Technical workshop on methyl bromide workshops. brought together National Ozone Officers • South-South cooperation has also taken and experts to address the remaining off among the French-speaking countries challenges in pre-harvest (soil), post- in West Africa: NOOs and refrigeration harvest and QPS sectors and exchanged experts from Gabon provided special international and regional experiences on technical assistance to their counterparts policies, tools and technical options. in Equatorial Guinea; likewise, Senegal • South-East Asia and West Asia provided technical assistance to Cape countries cooperated on establishing Verde. certification schemes for refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) technicians: Cambodia, Oman, Philippines and Saudi Arabia agreed to further explore 13

Fishing sector-crucial to ODS phase-out Assessing ODS in land based fish processing facilities dependant on R-22 refrigerated systems and viable options for replacement to longer term alternatives - CAP Pacific Island Fisheries Agency partnership

Enforcement and iPIC • Informal Prior-Informed Consent • Illegal trade in ODS continues to be a (iPIC) has helped to clarify the status challenge for the Caribbean countries. of hundreds of intended shipments of Their uniqueness as Small Island ODS since its inception and has been Developing States (SIDS) with numerous responsible for preventing numerous beaches, coves and bays pose a particular illegal or unauthorised shipments. challenge. The first regional training • Currently there are 106 members of iPIC, workshop for custom officers and brokers including major producing/ exporting on protecting Caribbean borders from countries such as China, Singapore illegal trade in ODS, was held in 2013 and those in the European Union. This in Grenada. This workshop built the informal system has proven to be valuable capacity of customs officers and provided in facilitating and expediting information information on classification of substances exchange and can assist in forging links to comply with current legislation at the between responsible staff in importing national level, it also provided training in and exporting countries. risk management as a tool, that can be implemented through the Automated • In 2013, of the reported 111 iPIC System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) to consultations, over 53% resulted in guard against illegal trade in ODS and rejections or cancellations of the licence ODS-based products. request and this prevented unwanted trade in more than 273 metric tonnes of • In collaboration with UNEP Division ODS including HCFCs, halons, and HBFCs for Environmental Law and Conventions (hydrobromofluorocarbons). (DELC), CAP SEAP organised a joint meeting of Ozone Officers and Customs • The first workshop in cooperation with in Laos to assist SEAP countries in their the Economic Community of West African efforts to ensure compliance with the States (ECOWAS) Commission, was held Montreal Protocol and to combat illegal with the participation of regional technical trade in ODS. DELC provided financial experts including National Ozone Officers support to the workshop and managed and customs officers on administrative a parallel session on illegal trade in and legal aspects and finalisation of the chemicals and waste. ODS regulations for the sub-region. 14 • UNEP OzonAction CAP in collaboration Customs, Enforcement, and Ozone with the UNEP DELC and the Secretariat Officers from the ECA network countries of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm and major trade partners including Conventions (BRS Secretariat) co- China, India, and the European Union. organised a joint meeting for National The meeting shared cases of illegal trade, Ozone Officers and Customs Officers for seizures, and subsequent prosecution the Pacific Islands. DELC provided financial and court decisions as disincentives to support. The meeting was very useful potential smugglers. The highlight of this for facilitating mutual understanding meeting was the ECA ozone protection and strengthening cooperation between award 2014 for Customs and enforcement NOUs and Customs officers in the PICs. officers. During the period of September Data sharing and management, e.g. 2012 and April 2014, the award winners license/permit, import/export data reported 134 successful seizures of between NOO and Customs enable the 7,370 items of equipment (appliances two authorities to better control and and compressors) and 9,523 refrigerant monitor imports and any illegal trade in cylinders/containers containing more than ODS by reconciling the data at national 467 metric tonnes of ODS and mixtures. and regional level. Informal Prior Informed Consent (iPIC) • UNEP ROA in collaboration with consultations prior to the issuance of INTERPOL and the UNEP DELC organised trade licenses avoided 67 unwanted/ a side-event at the internal conference on illegal shipments of more than 846 metric Illegal Trade, showcasing the successful tonnes of ODS and mixtures cooperation under the Montreal Protocol, between Custom officers and National Ozone Officers in certain African countries. • The ECA regional customs cooperation meeting enhanced cooperation between

Mainstreaming the HCFC phase-out into the national policy - Bhutan success First country to integrate ozone issues into the One UN country programme (UNDAF) 15 Industries and partners

UNEP reinforced partnerships with were certified according to the European industries such as through Refrigerants, Certification Schemes. The workshop Naturally!, the Association of Refrigeration presented a great opportunity for English- European Associations (AREA),the speaking African refrigeration technicians International Institute of Refrigeration to learn the techniques on how to (IIR) and Centro Studi Galileo, specifically install, maintain and repair refrigeration on training and certification needs in and air-conditioning/heat pump (RAC/ alternative refrigerants, and developing HP) systems containing alternative e-learning modules for technicians. refrigerants/natural refrigerants, Representatives from AREA and IIR considering both technical and safety participated in network meetings issues. It also provided the participants delivering up-to-date technology and with knowledge on establishment of innovation in the refrigeration servicing certification schemes. sectors. In addition, the successful approach of the West Asia High Ambient Temperature project to create the first ever industry One of the achievements for 2014 unified move to assess low-GWP was the successful thematic workshop alternatives for A/C industry, triggered on establishment and operation of interest among local manufacturers in Certification Schemes for Technicians, and Egypt to follow a similar approach but strengthening of National/Regional RAC at the national level under the HPMP of Associations for English-speaking African Egypt. Under the West Asia and national countries. Organised in collaboration with high ambient project, 90% of the A/C the Association of Refrigeration European industry in the region will be jointly Associations (AREA) and Centro Studi assessed for long-term options. Galileo, successful technicians that passed the examinations with over 60% score

Addressing high ambient temperature

First regional symposium on district cooling, saving environment and energy on technology choices;in West special attentionAsia to considering district cooling as a means to energy conservation, and leapfrog high-GWP refrigerants in different applications like cities, educational campuses, major medical facilities and other large building complexes. 16 Cooperation with other Implementing Agencies

UNEP CAP has also drawn closer to missions to DPRK in a bid to address its United Nations partners and other potential non-compliance issues in the implementing agencies, with which it has HCFC phase-out. established programmes of co-operation • Despite the early phase-out of methyl which go beyond mere co-ordination and bromide in the melon sector in Honduras, are aimed at developing truly joint actions the country indicated a potential at national level. This will be further compliance risk in 2015. CAP stepped up pursued in the coming years as the HCFC to support the country in cooperation phase-out deadlines approach. with UNIDO. As a result, the importation of methyl bromide was brought to a All implementing agencies have halt and the potential non-compliance participated in CAP network meetings situation was avoided. in a collaborative spirit and contributed • After three years without a national through specific technical presentations, coordinator, the National Ozone Unit of lessons learnt and updates on the HCFC Algeria re-started activities in November phase-out. 2013 with brilliant results in terms of licensing and quota system as well as awareness activities. Future cooperation • First inter-agency cooperation with will be pursued with UNIDO. UNIDO as a partner in 54 African countries: Currently UNEP jointly • Delays in the HPMP and IS project implements projects with UNIDO in 32 implementation, HCFC quota systems African countries. UNEP and UNIDO not operating in a timely manner co-organised the first joint meeting for and changes in government officials National Ozone Officers in Vienna, to resulted in Guatemala exceeding their address future joint projects in the HCFC 2013 HCFC baseline consumption. phase-out and strengthen partnership Continuous feedback, missions and and collaboration. support from CAP resulted in a national action plan to resume Montreal Protocol • UNEP and the World Health Implementation; and a ministerial Organization (WHO) re-launched its resolution is underway to limit 2014 collaboration on the publication of the HCFC consumption according to country health effects of UV radiation. baseline. • UNEP and UNIDO undertook two joint 17 Regional Networks

REGIONAL NETWORK UPDATES 18 The Regional CAP staff provides direct assistance to National Ozone Officers and other priority stakeholders in response to specific needs identified by Article-5 countries. UNEP CAP’s primary role is to assist Article-5 countries under the Montreal Protocol.

English-speaking Africa Network: HCFC Phase-out and Compliance with Methyl Bromide Deadline

The 17th Joint Meeting of the Ozone workshop to discuss the procedures Officers’ Network for Africa was for the establishment and operation organised back-to-back with the of RAC certification schemes and RAC English- and French-speaking Africa associations. As a follow up, ROA Networks Meetings at the United Nations CAP organised the Workshop on Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) the Establishment and Operation of headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Certification Schemes and National/ from 24-28 March 2014. The meeting Regional RAC Associations from 11 to addressed, inter alia, safe, climate-friendly, 13 June 2014 in Kigali, Rwanda. The and energy-efficient alternatives to meeting demonstrated and promoted HCFCs; resource mobilisation to address safe refrigeration and air-conditioning climate co-benefits for HCFC phase-out; practices for increased co-benefits the European experience in certification for ozone and climate protection in of competence in ODS substitutes; and Africa. The meeting was attended by remaining challenges in methyl bromide 24 representatives from the English- phase-out. speaking Africa Network, representatives of UNIDO, UNEP, the Air-Conditioning In addition to plenary sessions, the and Refrigeration European Association meeting also held separate parallel (AREA), refrigeration experts, industry, and sessions for the English-speaking and academics. French-speaking Africa networks to discuss their respective activities. The The meeting held separate sessions five-day meeting was attended by 47 where the refrigeration technicians took representatives of the joint network theoretical and practical examinations countries, representatives of the at the Refrigeration and air-conditioning Multilateral Fund Secretariat, the Ozone unit of the Integrated Polytechnic Institute Secretariat, UNIDO, UNDP, UNEP, GIZ in Kigali. The technicians that passed the Proklima, USA, EU, Poland, France, examinations with a score of over 60% refrigeration industries, international were certified according to the European experts, and academics. Certification Schemes.

One outcome of the workshop was a To mark the 2014 International Day for special request by network countries the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, the for CAP to urgently organise a thematic Ministry of Environment and Sustainable 19 Development and the Revenue Authority total phase out of methyl bromide of Mauritius, in collaboration with UNEP before January 1, 2015: Approaches CAP, organised a three-day regional and Challenges” was held from 23 to 25 train-the-trainer workshop on ‘Capacity- February 2014 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, Building for Customs Officers of the in collaboration with West Asia Network. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and The workshop addressed the remaining Island States of the Indian Ocean’ from challenges to achieving complete and 16 to 18 September 2014. The workshop sustainable phase-out of methyl bromide sought to empower Customs officers in developing countries. The meeting was of the region to combat illegal trade on attended by 22 representatives of Article substances controlled under the Montreal 5 parties, representatives of regional Protocol. The workshop also enhanced organisations, UNIDO, UNEP, Methyl cooperation among countries of the Bromide Technical Options Committee, region through the sharing of experiences and international experts. with regard to best practices and challenges encountered in implementing The Network has supported most of the the Montreal Protocol. A total of 13 countries in HPMP activities including participants from Madagascar, Seychelles, conducting national training workshops Rodrigues, Reunion Island, Comoros, for Customs officers and RAC experts. Maldives and Mauritius were trained. Several missions were conducted by CAP to assist countries requiring specific The English-speaking Africa Network support to enable them to achieve promotes cooperation and inter-regional compliance with the Montreal Protocol. sharing of experiences with other Regional Networks. A global policy and technical workshop on Methyl Bromide with the theme “Towards a successful

The Ozone Officers Network for English-speaking Africa comprises of 28 countries: Angola, Botswana, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Republic of South Sudan, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Special assistance is provided to two Portuguese-speaking countries in the Network (Angola and Mozambique) mainly through special sessions or meetings or group discussions during network meetings. 20 French-speaking Africa Network: Certification and Refrigerant choices

The Ozone Officers Network for French-speaking Africa comprises 26 Francophone countries: Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo Brazzaville, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sao Tome e Principe, Senegal, Togo and Tunisia. Among these 26 countries, three are Portuguese speaking (Cabo Verde, Guinea Bissau and Sao Tome e Principe); and one Spanish speaking country (Equatorial Guinea).

The 17th Joint Meeting of the Ozone The meeting was organised to maximise Officers’ Network for Africa - was held the use of global/ regional resource back to back with English- and French- persons and institutions with a focus on speaking Africa Network Meetings at the the challenges and needs of participating United Nations Economic Commission countries as identified during the Addis for Africa (UNECA) headquarters in Addis Ababa Network meeting. The topics Ababa, Ethiopia, (see p.18-19). covered during the meeting included refrigerants and the environment, As part of the agreed regional needs the current HCFC alternatives in the identified during the above meeting, region, certification of RAC technicians the Government of the Republic of in the servicing sector, technology Benin and UNEP ROA CAP organised a and knowledge training assessment, workshop on Refrigeration Certification and AREA’s position on training and and Associations in Cotonou, Benin, from certification of low-GWP refrigerants. 14 to 16 October 2014. The workshop brought together Ozone Officers from 26 African French Speaking countries, regional refrigeration experts, European Refrigeration Associations, and other technical resource persons and private sector representatives. 21 Europe and Central Asia Network (ECA network): Enforcement and Combating Illegal Trade

The ECA network spreads from Central Asia, Caucasus to the Balkans and involves the countries with economies in transition (CEITs) in its meetings. The candidate countries Macedonia FYR, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey are preparing the accession to the European Union. Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan intend to join the Customs Union between Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia.

Facts and figures for the ECA network as Joint UNDP/UNIDO/UNEP meeting on the of September 2014: implications of joining the Customs Union between Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, • 10 of 11 countries are in compliance held in Minsk, March 2014. Delegations with the Montreal Protocol phase-out of the current members of the Customs schedules Union and those from the prospective • All countries have reported ODS import/ future members Armenia, Kyrgyzstan export licensing and HCFC import quota and Tajikistan discussed a set of action systems in place points on how to enforce the Montreal • All countries have ratified all Montreal Protocol provisions in terms of mandatory Protocol amendments (since 2011) reporting of imports, exports, production • All countries have reported Article 7 and destruction of ODS, mandatory data for 2012 (and 7 already for 2013) national import/export licensing systems • All countries have reported Country and trade restrictions with non-Parties. Programme implementation data for 2013 The delegates of the Eurasian Economic • All countries have reported zero methyl Commission explained the Customs Union bromide consumption (since 2011) legislation relevant for the Montreal • 10 of 11 countries have designated Protocol implementation. Montreal Protocol Customs focal points • 8 of 11 countries have updated their Ceremony of the ECA Ozone Protection informal Prior Informed Consent data in Award (3rd edition) held in Sarajevo, 2013 or 2014 May 2014. The award was presented to • 8 of 11 countries have national RAC customs and law enforcement officers/ associations in place organisations from Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Cyprus, Selected highlights of the ECA network in European Union, Georgia, Germany, 2014 include the following: India, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan in May 2014. 22 From September 2012 to April 2014, Implementation of a regional strategy for the countries reported 133 seizures of ODS waste management and disposal in 7,370 items of equipment and 9,513 the ECA region. The UNIDO/UNEP pilot refrigerant cylinders/tanks containing project is funded by Multilateral Fund more than 467 tonnes of ODS or mixtures. and aims at disposing waste containing Informal Prior-Informed Consent (iPIC) ozone depleting substances (ODS) consultations prior to the issuance of collected in Bosnia and Herzegovina, trade licenses helped avoid 67 unwanted/ Croatia and Montenegro. So far, 25 illegal shipments of more than 846 tonnes tonnes of waste has been collected and is of ODS or mixtures. In addition, more awaiting disposal. The capacity-building than 175 tonnes of illegal trade in ODS efforts under the project are expected to was detected, which had taken place in improve the waste collection and disposal the past. The 4th edition of the award was systems and also ensure their sustainable launched during the RILO ECE meeting operation. in Budapest in May 2014 and the award ceremony is scheduled for May 2016 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. 23 Caribbean Network: Setting Standards

The Caribbean Network of Ozone Officers (NOOs) comprises 14 countries: Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. All of them are operating under Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol. Except for Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, the rest are low volume consuming (LVC) countries.

The Caribbean Network Meeting took on standards development. This led to place in Paramaribo, Suriname, from the regional thematic workshop held 7 – 10 April 2014. It focused on building in Panama on 14-16 October 2014 with the capacities of NOOs and promoting the participation of refrigeration experts, the exchange of experiences and lessons NOUs and the support of standards learnt during the implementation of experts as resource persons. It sought to HCFC phase-out strategies. Countries define, initiate, and adopt standards in also discussed topics related to national the refrigeration sector that assist in the implications of the recent decisions HCFC phase-out and the introduction of of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP) alternatives. to the Montreal Protocol and the Executive Committee of the Multilateral At the national level, countries expressed Fund; progress and challenges on the concern about the non-availability of implementation of HCFC phase-out suitable energy-efficient and climate- management plans (HPMPs); legislative friendly alternatives for some RAC and enforcement approaches to meet applications in the region. In order to the Montreal Protocol compliance start addressing some barriers, National requirements; and trends in market Ozone Officers were asked to examine availability and industry demands for the Eastern Caribbean Energy Labelling energy-efficient, ozone- and climate- Project, or similar projects, to identify friendly refrigeration and air-conditioning synergies and gaps in the creation of alternatives for the Caribbean region. standards in the RAC sector. Network members were also advised to promote The meeting also discussed the issue of sustainability of RAC Associations through standards and decided it was a priority to training, diversification of membership, promote the development of standards hosting of conferences, certification, as at the national level. UNEP undertook well as to continue innovative resource a technical support activity in St. Kitts mobilisation strategies. related to standards and in the form of field evaluation visits and expert advice 24 During the year, training programmes for States Conference in September 2014, technicians have also been conducted, on the challenges and successes of the and trainees have been provided with Montreal Protocol. tools and equipment for safe handling of ODS.

As 2014 is the international year of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Network members were encouraged to raise awareness among the high- level authorities attending the Third International Small Island Developing 25 Central and Latin America Network: Building Capacity for Global Cooperation

Latin America region comprises 19 countries: Argentina, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba , Dominican Rep., Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama. Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian Rep.).

In this sub-region, the range of ODS in the prevention of illegal trade in ODS, consumption varies from low to high which is an important contribution to levels depending on the size of the ozone layer protection. This has been country and its industrial base, which possible through NOOs’ involvement in includes some ODS production facilities in the risk analysis implemented by Customs Argentina, Mexico and Venezuela. Offices, as well as providing support to oversee papers of imports/exports and During the last years Latin America attending inspections of ODS shipments. has been characterised as a dynamic region with sustained growth levels and Gradually more countries are becoming expanding economies, which in turn led active players in the iPIC mechanism to increased levels of consumption of (informal Prior-Informed Consent on ODS and related technologies. Trade of Ozone Depleting Substances), developed by UNEP. Irrespective of ODS consumption levels of countries, the region has focused on Recently, through consultations between enhancing capacities of Customs Officers trading partners prior to issuing import and other law enforcement officials. and export licenses effectively, fraudulent The robust institutional framework of exports coming from Asia to this region countries of Latin America, as well as have been prevented. With the help of the experience gained at national level China’s National Management Office of with the ODS import/export control ODS Import and through links facilitated system, has enabled governments to go by UNEP, almost 150 tonnes of HCFC beyond national commitments under the exports to two countries were stopped Montreal Protocol. during 2014.

Countries are achieving their ODS phase- out goals ahead of schedule. In addition, National Ozone Officers are also engaged 26 Third SIDS Conference: Implications for the Montreal Protocol

All Small Island Developing States (SIDS) These linkages can be drawn from, are Parties to the Montreal Protocol. Their for example, under article 47 of the compliance obligations to this multilateral S.A.M.O.A document as “We recognize environmental agreement are closely that the phasing-out of ozone-depleting related to sustainable developmental substances is resulting in a rapid increase priorities of member states. In this in the use and the release into the regard, natural linkages can be found in environment of hydrofluorocarbons with the outcomes of the Third International a high potential for global warming. Conference on SIDS held in Apia, We support the gradual phasing down Samoa, in September 2014 (http://www. of the consumption and production of sids2014.org). The conference’s outcome hydrofluorocarbons.” is captured in the SIDS ACCELERATED MODALITIES OF ACTION (S.A.M.O.A) A brief study of the S.A.M.O.A. pathway Pathway document. One such link is with document exploring linkages with the decision XIX/6 of the Montreal Protocol. Montreal Protocol responsibilities and Under similar interpretation, the S.A.M.O.A implications are summarised in this table: pathway document details the need to address adaptation to longer term energy-efficient, climate- and ozone- friendly technological alternatives. 27 Montreal Protocol implications towards S.A.M.O.A pathway adaptation to longer term document (selected items) non-ODS alternatives Methyl bromide applications in Plant Quarantine Sustainable tourism, food and Pre-shipment (QPS). Refrigeration and air- security and nutrition; health conditioning (RAC) technological transitions and and non-communicable impacts to food and medicine storage and supply diseases chains Sustainable energy, climate change sustainable Required RAC knowledge, skills and capacities in consumption and production, the investment planning, design, selection and education, capacity building servicing stages of technology adaptation and technology transfers Protection of the ozone layer is necessary for a Oceans, seas and biodiversity healthy, productive and resilient eco-system Management of chemicals and Management of use, emissions and safe disposal waste, including hazardous of ODS. waste The Montreal Protocol, Multilateral Fund (MLF) is Financing financially supporting the phase-out of ODS in all SIDS HCFC phase-out addressed through supporting Trade the adaptation of best longer-term technological alternatives Data and statistics Annual data reporting obligation of each SIDS. MLF is supporting national Institutional Institutional support for SIDS Strengthening in SIDS. 28 South Asia Network: A Mosaic of Achievements

The South Asia Regional Network of Ozone Officers is highly diverse, comprising the giant economies of China and India, newly industrialised Republic of Korea, middle volume consuming countries of Bangladesh, Iran, DPR Korea, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and low volume consuming countries of Afghanistan, Bhutan, Mongolia, the Maldives and Nepal.

South Asia has some of the world’s most Protection (MEP) of China is coordinating dynamic economies. The combined the national efforts, working with over HCFCs in China and India make up more 100 enterprises and numerous other than 80% of global baseline production stakeholders in the central and the local and almost 60% of the global baseline governments, the academic sector and consumption in Article 5 Parties. Happily, non-governmental organisations. During all but one South Asian country are on the Ozone Day celebration meeting, FECO target in curbing the production and use announced the bidding results for the of HCFCs as per the first control measure closure of five HCFC production lines for of 1 January 2013. And this has resulted the 2015 deadline for the 10% reduction in a mosaic of achievements and best of HCFCs. The refrigeration industry’s practices. operation training has just kicked off in all six training centres in accordance with Some highlights: the requirements of the environmental protection department. The programme • The Queen of Bhutan, Her Majesty The will target more than 1,500 technicians Druk Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck, (including the trainers) per year from launched the first formal national 2014-2015. curriculum for refrigeration and air- conditioning servicing in June 2014. • With technical assistance from GIZ, India has shown the world their innovative leap- • China, as the largest HCFC producer and frogging in the room air-conditioning consumer among Article 5 countries, faces sector by starting commercial production an extremely difficult task of reducing of R290-based room air-conditioners. HCFC production and consumption by 10% from its baselines prior to 1 January • Iran is facilitating the Teheran Dialogue 2015. However, rising to the challenge, with Pakistan and Afghanistan on trans- by the end of 2013, China successfully boundary movement of HCFCs and HCFC- reduced their HCFC consumption by based equipment. 9% against the baseline of 2009/2010 average through robust action plans. The • The Maldives, a member of the Climate Foreign Economic Cooperation Office and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), aims to (FECO) of the Ministry of Environmental advance its HCFC phase-out by 10 years 29 ahead of schedule as part of attaining art technologies, operational systems, carbon neutrality, and wants to find and when the credits are ultimately sold, alternatives to HCFCs that have low-GWP. carbon finance.

• The government is the largest public • Sri Lanka has completely phased procurer of goods and services in out using methyl bromide in all tea Mongolia. In June 2014, the government plantations. Its US$ 1.5 billion tea industry took steps to address MOP Decision XIX/6 now uses ozone-friendly substitutes, and on climate and energy benefits from proudly serves the world’s first ozone- HCFC phase-out by setting up the Green friendly tea. The government launched Procurement/Green Buildings initiative its “Ozone Friendly Pure Ceylon Tea” logo which seeks zero-ODP and low-GWP with which the Ceylon tea industry aims alternatives in public procurement. to market the tea as a premium product.

• In 2013, the first pilot project on ODS disposal in Nepal was completed. The project demonstrates how unwanted ODS can be disposed of safely and cost-effectively in collaboration with the private sector, leveraging state-of-the-

Southeast Asia and the Pacific Network: Pro-active Exemplary South-South Cooperation

Southeast Asia and the Pacific (SEAP) Network of Ozone Officers comprises all 10 members of ASEAN (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam), together with Timor Leste, one rotating Pacific Island country, and two industrialized country partners, Australia and Sweden.

Material preparation poster depicts the cooperative efforts of ASEAN countries in protecting the For the first time, the South East Asia and ozone layer. Translations of the year’s the Pacific (SEAP) Network, in cooperation theme (Protection of the Ozone Layer: with the Association of Southeast Asian the Mission Goes On) are shown in the Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat, developed languages of ASEAN countries and that of regional awareness raising materials Timor Leste. for celebrating the 2014 International Ozone Day. The materials consist of The Philippines’ NOU coordinated the 3,000 posters and 5,000 notebooks. The designing, printing and delivery of 30

these materials, which were distributed to schools, provinces and districts for Philippines-Cambodia-Oman-Saudi the celebration of the Ozone Day in all Arabia: This inter-regional cooperation SEAP countries. The ASEAN Secretariat was held to share experience on the is considering the material to be technicians’ certificate system. NOUs incorporated in the ASEAN Environmental visited Manila, Philippines, from 17 to Education Action Plan 2014-2018. 19 March 2014 to review the system of Certification of Refrigeration and South-South cooperation Air-conditioning (RAC) technicians of the Philippines. Along with the Following the joint network meeting in NOUs, Technical Education and Skills September 2013, CAP/ROAP facilitated Development Authority (TESDA), the several South-South activities. accreditation system, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), visited a Highlights: certified servicing workshop.

Malaysia-Brunei: From 10 to 14 February Cambodia-Myanmar: The Cambodian 2014, three staff members of Brunei NOU NOU visited Myanmar from 17 to received specific training organised 19 September 2014 to share HPMP by the NOU of Malaysia. It included an implementation experience. The NOU introduction to Malaysia’s HCFC phase- also joined a national stakeholders’ out management plan (HPMP), the import consultation workshop, and assisted and export control system, the E-permit Myanmar in drafting the HPMP system, the licensing and quota system, implementation plan. a demonstration on the Refrigerant Identifier (RI) and its application on SEAP has also strengthened its Mobile Air-Conditioning Systems. They collaboration with the PIC (Pacific) also attended an NOU dialogue with network, thus implementing ExCom the Malaysian Air-Conditioning and decision 56/33 of rotating participation Refrigeration Association (MACRA). of a PIC country in the SEAP network. At the April meeting, Papua New Guinea Indonesia-Timor Leste: In January 2014, participated, and in the October meeting, the Indonesian NOU visited Dili, Timor Palau joined. Also, PIC invited two SEAP Leste, and assisted in the preparation countries (Cambodia and Timor Leste) to and delivery of the Customs Training join its regional HPMP thematic meeting Workshop. The NOU also advised the held in August 2014, in Nadi, Fiji. Timor Leste NOU on various other technical matters. In June 2014, an Indonesian trainer conducted a workshop on good practices in the RAC servicing sector for technicians. In September 2014, the Indonesia NOU built the capacity of the Timor Leste NOU in HCFC import data collection and analysis, and in finalising the 2013 Article-7 data report.

32 West Asia Network: ozone and climate in high-ambient temperature countries

CAP at the UNEP Regional Office for West on long-term alternative refrigerants Asia (ROWA) implements either alone or suitable for high-ambient temperature in cooperation with sister IAs three types countries. Their aim was to facilitate a of MLF-funded projects in West Asian regional forum of concerned industries countries (Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, and authorities for setting-up roadmaps Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Yemen): and strategies to address technological • Institutional Strengthening Projects challenges in the region for adopting (ISPs) suitable long-term alternatives. The fourth • National/Terminal Phase-out symposium on Alternative Refrigerants for Management Plans (NPPs/TPMPs) High-Ambient Countries was organised in • HCFC Phase-out Management Plans cooperation with the Emirates Authority (HPMPs) for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA), on 28 - 29 October 2014 in Dubai. CAP also initiates and maintains close coordination and cooperation at the In September 2014, in cooperation with national level, as well as with regional the Ministry of Environment and Climate and sub-regional organisations and Affairs in Oman, UNEP/ROWA organised secretariats of the Gulf Cooperation in Muscat the first Thematic Workshop Council (GCC) and the League of on the Development of Appropriate Arab States, maintaining the region’s National Regulatory and Institutional compliance with the Montreal Protocol Frameworks in West Asia Countries of provisions. UNEP/ROWA’s focus is to Certification Scheme for RAC Technicians. ensure sustained compliance under This was accompanied by two National the Montreal Protocol and address the Training Workshops for Trainers of following regional priorities: Refrigeration and Air-conditioning on the Good Practices and on Assessment under Key Regional Events: Certification Schemes.

An important milestone of total phase- out of methyl bromide is to be reached in January 2015. UNEP/ROWA, in partnership with the Egyptian Ministry of Environment, organised a Global Workshop on the remaining policy and technical challenges associated with the methyl bromide phase-out by developing countries. Outputs of this workshop were well received by stakeholders.

In cooperation with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air- Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), UNEP/ ROWA organised three symposiums 33 LESSONS LEARNT AND CHALLENGES FACED 35 • A major challenge for CAP is to turn the resources; low and irregular international momentum created by Ozone Officers traffic volumes; high volatility of economic through their networks into specific growth; limited opportunities for the actions under the HCFC phase-out, private sector growth; and the economies and sustaining these during the period having a relatively higher reliance on the running up to 2030. public sector.

• CAP has the capacity and flexibility to • Because PICs have a Regional HPMP respond quickly to requests from National framework that involves 12 small island Ozone Units to help them avoid potential states, the rate of implementation is often non-compliance situations. determined by the country with slowest rate of progress. There is also a higher risk of non-compliance: suppliers from • By developing operational guidelines exporting countries not willing to sell and methodological guides, CAP has small volume purchases, risk of illegal identified common approaches to trade and/or of low quality refrigerants capacity development in HCFC phase-out imports, margin of error of two decimal and management. These will be pursued places (0.00) can contribute to a higher further in 2015. non-compliance risk.

• A key challenge is how to deal with • CAP has promoted policy dialogue in products - particularly in A/C sector – various relevant aspects of HCFC phase- that use refrigerants that have a high out, on the nexus between energy and global warming potential (GWP). In some climate. Countries were also assisted to regional markets, low-GWP options are turn international legal instruments into not yet widely available. national policies and laws.

• Political instability in the West Asia • The cost effectiveness of the regional region – especially in Syria, Iraq, and network meetings was re-evaluated. The Yemen – has prevented CAP from general trend is for one network meeting providing the on-ground technical per year and smaller thematic meetings services. The political situation has also on specific issues or topics. had some direct or indirect impacts on neighbouring countries. • Within CAP, cost-effective measures implemented in 2013-2014 include • As all the Pacific Island Countries (PIC) tighter monitoring of staff travel are also SIDS and four are additionally and consultancies; increased use Least Developed Countries (LDCs), they of information and communication face their own challenges in implementing technologies and video conferencing; the Montreal Protocol. These include: scheduling of meetings back-to-back with a narrow resource base that does not regional initiatives and other meetings; allow economies of scale; small domestic and the closer monitoring of publications markets and heavy dependence on a few such as promoting regional technical external and remote markets; high costs materials for global outreach. for energy, infrastructure, transportation, communication and servicing; long distances from export markets and import Acknowledgements

The publication was supervised by: Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, Head of OzonAction Anne-Maria Fenner, Information Manager of OzonAction

We thank the following contributors: Atul Bagai, Senior Regional Network Coordinator, South Asia Artie Dubrie, Regional Network Coordinator for Pacific Island Countries Yamar Guissé, Regional Network Coordinator for French-speaking Africa Shaofeng Hu, Regional Network Coordinator for SEAP Khaled Klaly, Programme Officer for West Asia Halvart Koeppen, Regional Network Coordinator for Europe and Central Asia Marco Pinzon, Regional Network Coordinator for the Caribbean Patrick Salifu, Regional Network Coordinator for English-speaking Africa Mirian Vega, Regional Network Coordinator for Latin America

Editor: Nalaka Gunawardene

Review: Ezra Clark, Programme Officer at OzonAction Rupert de Jesus, Programme Assistant at OzonAction Barbara Huber, Programme Assistant at OzonAction

Design: Aurélie Ek

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