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VIENNA, 18 December 2020 - In the midst of the global pandemic, the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MLF) has successfully organized two intersessional approval processes to ensure continued funding for developing countries to meet their obligations under the Montreal Protocol.

In 2020, the MLF approved US$17.8m for project proposals submitted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). In addition to the tranches of ongoing HCFC Phase-Out Management Plans (HPMPs), the MLF approved new stages of the HPMPs for 15 countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Botswana, Ecuador, Gambia, Guatemala, Honduras, Malawi, Montenegro, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Serbia, Turkmenistan, Uganda and Zambia. In December 2020, the MLF also approved UNIDO’s proposal for the first HPMP for Syria; until now the only remaining Article-5 country without an approved HPMP.

HPMPs are sector-wide programmes designed to help countries gradually reduce their use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which destroy the earth’s protective ozone layer and contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions. Each HPMP is unique and the funding received from the MLF allows UNIDO to implement a wide range of activities in support of ozone protection and climate action.

Overall, the ambitious portfolio of projects approved by the MLF for implementation by UNIDO indicates that, while 2020 was a challenging year, there is still a strong commitment to safeguarding the environment on a global level and vast opportunities to build back better.

For more information, please contact:

Ole Nielsen

UNIDO Montreal Protocol Division

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VIENNA, 26 June 2020 – On World Refrigeration Day 2020, the Montreal Protocol Division of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in collaboration with the World Refrigeration Day Secretariat, organized an online webinar on the impact and importance of refrigeration. Experts representing National Ozone Units, governments and the private sector shared their views on the opportunities provided by the Kigali Amendment to strengthen institutions, drive policy changes and transfer technology in support of sustainable solutions in the refrigeration sector.

The session started out with an overview by Ole Nielsen, Chief of the Montreal Protocol Division who spoke about the three topics in refrigeration within the framework of the Kigali Amendment - energy efficiency, industry 4.0 and skills development. He further raised the point how the challenging times of the COVID19 pandemic also gave rise to new communication opportunities with UNIDO’s partners, and mentioned the level of demand for future webinars.

In his keynote speech by Stephen Gill, founder of the World Refrigeration Day and former president of the Institute of Refrigeration in the UK, spoke about the impact and importance of cooling. From this presentation, the audience learnt about the significant role that refrigeration industry and its technology play in modern life and society.  

Referencing UNIDO’s experience in industry, providing refrigeration equipment, energy management and systems optimization, Bettina Schreck, Industrial Development Officer at UNIDO, emphasized the value of accelerating the climate benefits of the Kigali Amendment. Introducing proper maintenance or servicing in energy management, as well as optimization systems for refrigeration, demonstrated the potential impact of energy savings for industry partners.

The audience also took part in an interactive poll to identify the most important barriers for implementing energy efficiency in refrigeration.

Joining the discussion, Adnan Atwa, Industrial Development Officer at UNIDO, and Klas Berglöf, CEO of ClimaCheck, introduced the main principles and challenges of inclusive and sustainable industrial development and innovation to facilitate the HFC phase-down. The audience learned about the use of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the refrigeration sector and were able to see practical applications from various installations worldwide.

The audience also heard about the obstacles and opportunities in skills development in the face of the Kigali Amendment. Ester Monroy, Project Coordinator at UNIDO, highlighted the importance of upgrading the technicians’ skills in order to improve and maintain energy efficiency.   

Finally, Ole Nielsen provided an outlook on future collaborations between the Montreal Protocol Division and its trusted partners, reflecting on previous activities and announcing next steps of action.

He was followed by Zeynep Gökcen Asan, who spoke on behalf of the National Ozone Unit Office in Turkey, and shared the country’s experiences and, in regard to the implementation of the Enabling Activities project, spoke about future steps towards the ratification of the Kigali Amendment at end of 2020.

More than 140 participants worldwide joined the webinar, sharing comments and questions. During the Q&A sessions between presentations, key questions focused on the implementation of HPMP-II, and enabling activities, as well as Kigali Amendment ratifications during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in regards to technical training for technicians to reduce the spread of indirect infectious diseases while servicing refrigeration and air-condition equipment.

For more information and presentations, please contact the Montreal Protocol Division

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VIENNA, 22 June 2020  - The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has launched its latest guidance document supporting domestic and commercial refrigeration manufacturers seeking to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The project is funded by the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program (K-CEP) and is supported by the International Copper Association (ICA).

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the study will be launched through a webinar which will present the outcomes of the project and provide insights into how to use the guidance document, analyze changes in manufacturing, evaluate technical and financial options for energy-efficient refrigeration equipment and calculate associated emission reductions. The webinar will be organized by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)

22 July 2020, 15:00-16:00 CEST

Click here free of charge to register.

Recordings will be available on ASHRAE Global Training Centre website following the webinar.

This new study sets out a methodology and tools for manufacturers to understand cost and net benefits for different energy-efficient refrigeration design options and the required manufacturing line upgrades.

The COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted cold value chains which are critical for the distribution of foods and vaccines. The refrigeration and air conditioning sector is currently responsible for around 17% of global electricity consumption and, in some developing countries, even exceeds 40% of the national electricity demand. In order to reduce the impact on health and the environment, it is vital to improve the energy efficiency of the refrigeration systems and to adopt refrigerants that have zero or low climate impact.

As an implementing agency of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, UNIDO is supporting its Member States with the phase-out of the use of ozone-depleting and global warming substances in the cooling sector. The amendment to the Montreal Protocol in 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda, has led to the creation of the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program which aims to help increase energy efficiency of cooling in developing countries.

UNIDO’s K-CEP funded project, “Assessment of incremental capital and operating costs for improved EE in domestic, commercial and retail refrigeration”, looked at manufacturers in five countries and characterized them using a Manufacturer Development Index (MDI) which takes into account: manufacturer development capacity, manufacturer production volume, manufacturer proximity to and relationship with component's original equipment manufacturers (OEM), market maturity, and a country's energy efficiency score.

Manufacturers are now able to ascertain which changes to their offerings can be taken cost effectively.The simulation software, named Commercial Refrigeration Analysis (CERA)[1], gives visual modelling of the changes in components, the benefit in energy efficiency and the cost involved in promoting green design and thus keeping the product competitive in the long term. A record of the changes made, enable scenarios and costings to be formed into a “board room ready” style presentation.

“Many companies including those in Article 5 countries are missing suitable guidance and opportunities for knowledge transfer when trying to meet global climate goals. This guidance document introduces practical ways to calculate and cost the changes needed for their product and factory footprint to comply with both international agreements and national legislation,” said Fukuya Iino from UNIDO’s Department of Environment.

Lead author and presenter, Omar Abdelaziz, a member of ASHRAE, and Assistant Professor of Thermofluids at Egypt’s Zewail City of Science and Technology, highlighted that “the outcomes of the project provide insight into how to analyze changes in manufacturing, evaluate technical and financial options for energy efficient products and calculate associated emission reductions”.

He added, “We hope manufacturers and service providers that need help to change their products and factories in today’s competitive marketplace can rely on the project guidance document and consultants familiar with the work to improve products energy efficiency and reduce emissions.”

For more information about this press release or if you need assistance to register for the webinar please contact Nigel Cotton at nigel.cotton @ brentwoodtech.co.uk

[1]CERA is originally developed by the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory of the United States Department of Energy (DOE)

VIENNA, 13 March 2020 –The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Government of the Republic of Albania have agreed a comprehensive programmatic framework to achieve inclusive and sustainable industrial development over the next five years. The Country Programme (CP) for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID) in Albania 2020-2024 includes around twenty project proposals in three priority areas: industrial competitiveness and market access; productive employment and entrepreneurship development; and sustainable energy for productive uses and environmental management.

The CP was signed by Permanent Representative of the Republic of Albania to the International Organizations in Vienna, Ambassador Igli Hasani and UNIDO’s Director General, LI Yong, at UNIDO Headquarters.

Permanent Representative Hasani welcomed the signing of the first Country Programme Framework as a step forward in the cooperation between the Albanian Government and UNIDO. He highlighted that the identified components are well aligned with the Albanian priorities in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and appreciated the fact that the CP is gender-mainstreamed. He reaffirmed the Albanian side will further develop technical cooperation with UNIDO in the framework of the new CP.

UNIDO’s Director General Li said, “The signed programme opens up new opportunities to be seized in support of ISID in Albania. Realization of a full-fledged resource-mobilization strategy and engagement with multilateral and bilateral donors are important prerequisites for its successful implementation. UNIDO, together with the Government of Albania will continue to work closely towards CP’s upscaling.”

UNIDO is currently implementing two technical cooperation projects in Albania to ensure compliance with the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer by phasing out the use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons and reducing their negative impacts on human health and the environment. Another UNIDO project strives to transform the market for using organic waste from olive oil production and other industries for energy generation (see: Bioenergy that is good for business).

The proposed UNIDO technical cooperation projects focus on such key areas as competiveness of export-oriented industries through industrial modernization and upgrading; fostering innovation eco-systems and digital transformation; upgrading the competitiveness of agri-food value chains; and eco-industrial parks development.

The Country Programme for Albania is expected to be officially launched in Tirana in the first half of 2020.

For more information, please contact:

Solomiya Omelyan

UNIDO Regional Division – Europe and Central Asia

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More information on UNIDO’s Country Programmes for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development here.

TIRANA, 18 January 2019 – Albania has ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. It will reduce use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), powerful greenhouse gases used mainly in refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment, which are thousands of times more harmful to the climate than CO2. The Kigali Amendment, which entered into force in January 2019, amends the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer to include substances – including hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) – which do not damage the ozone layer but are known to have high global warming potential.

“The Kigali Amendment is a new way of dealing with global environmental issues,’’ explained Fukuya Iino, Industrial Development Officer at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), which helped the Albanian authorities prepare for the phasedown of HFC use. “Albania’s ratification shows that the country is proactively committed to addressing future problems by preventing an increase in the use of HFCs and promoting the use of climate-friendly alternatives.”

By phasing down the use of HFCs, the Kigali Amendment aims to avoid an increase in global atmospheric temperature of 0.5°C by the end of the century.

The Kigali Amendment is in line with the Albania’s national strategies, which aim to contribute to the protection of the environment and to tackle climate change. The ratification process was facilitated by the previous implementation of targeted activities by the National Ozone Unit (NOU) as well as by several projects supported by UNIDO which have helped prepare legislation and institutional assessments, convened high-level meetings, and created a platform for knowledge sharing among key national stakeholders.

The ratification of the Kigali Amendment paves the road for Albania to set its HFCs baseline, freeze its consumption amount, and establish a schedule for phase-down of HFCs. This will provide Albanian importers and users of HFCs with more business stability, giving them an opportunity to prepare for the changes that will be coming to the international market once the Amendment’s provisions to prohibit trade with non-parties enter into force in 2033.

“Blendi Klosi, the Minister of Tourism and Environment of Albania played a pivotal role in the ratification process,” said Mimoza Vokshi, National Ozone Officer, while underlining the essential contribution of all stakeholders involved, including UNIDO and UN Environment.

Find out more about the project here.

For more information, please contact:

Fukuya Iino

Industrial Development Officer

UNIDO Montreal Protocol Division

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TEHRAN, 20 November 2018 – The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Iran’s National Ozone Unit (NOU) today organized a workshop in Tehran to formulate a technical and business strategy to support small manufacturers of refrigeration equipment and insulation material with the adoption of new ozone- and climate-friendly substances and technologies. This will contribute to Iran’s efforts to comply with its commitment, under the Montreal Protocol, to reduce its use of ozone-depleting substances – specifically, hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) – commonly used in this sector.

Through the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol, UNIDO and Italy assist small manufacturers of refrigeration equipment in Iran – ranging from small chillers to domestic and commercial-scale refrigerators – to adapt their manufacturing processes and products in compliance with the second stage of the HCFC phase-out plan set by the Iranian government.

During the workshop, technology suppliers explained how small manufacturers can continue their operations with alternative chemical substances, while maintaining safety. “The NOU will consider the outputs of this workshop in the national strategy, hoping to successfully meet challenges ahead, specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises,” said Medi Bakhshizade, project coordinator of Iran’s National Ozone Office.

Several alternatives to HCFCs are readily available, but some of them are known to have high global warming potentials (GWP). Under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, a direct switch to natural refrigerants, which have zero ozone depleting potential (ODP) and low GWP, is encouraged.

In the case of Iran, the most promising alternative for small companies is cyclopentane, which could be locally produced if there is enough demand. However, the substance is high flammable, meaning new technical skills and safety installations and equipment would be required and these constitute a major financial barrier for small companies. Active cooperation between companies, local chemical formulators and technology suppliers could help tackle this barrier.

UNIDO project manager Fukuya Iino said, “UNIDO would like to promote energy-efficient technologies while phasing out HCFCs. Small companies are faced with challenges to adopt new technologies, and this is why we are asking possible technology suppliers to share their know-how with them.”

A number of technology and financing options to support small manufacturing companies were presented during the workshop. The event offered a platform for small beneficiary manufacturers, technology suppliers, chemical material formulators, governmental focal points, and other stakeholders, to share knowledge and develop partnerships.

Among participating speakers were technology suppliers from Italy (two), Australia (one) and Iran (one). Forty-five participants actively joined the discussion between speakers, panel members, and the audience.

Find out more about the project here.

For more information, please contact:

Fukuya Iino

Industrial Development Officer

UNIDO Montreal Protocol Division

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Mahnaz Sayahi

National Consultant

UNIDO Montreal Protocol Division

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KABUL, 4 October 2018 – An important milestone has been reached today in a United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) project in Afghanistan focusing on the phase out of ozone-depleting substances – hydro-chlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) – in the country, as two key stakeholders signed an agreement which will facilitate the training of thousands of technicians working in the refrigerator and air conditioner services sector on how to handle climate friendly but flammable substances.

The agreement signed between Schah Zaman Maiwandi, Director General of National Environment Protection Agency (NEPA) and Faizullah Zaki, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs will, among others, enable the transfer of equipment to the Afghan Korea Vocational Institute.

“This action can be counted as a first step in the beginning of more and serious activity towards standardization of both the refrigerator and air conditioner and license distributing system services,” said Maiwandi. “Moreover, assistance with new equipment and tools from NEPA to the Afghan Korea Institute via the HPMP project is an intensification of this process.”

Under the Montreal Protocol, Afghanistan is committed to reducing its use of HCFCs by 35 per cent of by 2020 and 67.5 per cent by 2025. HCFCs are mostly used in refrigerant factories during the production of refrigerator and air conditioner systems. While alternative refrigerants are available, there is a need to equip technicians – which account for more than 5000 in the sector in Afghanistan – with the necessary skills and knowledge so they can safely and efficiently replace the old refrigerants with the new ones.

With funds from Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol, UNIDO is supporting the government of Afghanistan in providing training and standardization of the refrigerator and air conditioner services sector and introduce new ozone- and climate-friendly technologies. The program will, among others, establish a licensing system for the refrigerator and air conditioner services sector in order to monitor and determine competency of technicians, staff and personnel of the sector.

“This agreement paved a path for the young Afghan trainees to safely handle the flammable substances while acquiring technical skills needed for starting up their own service shops. The trained technicians are expected to contribute to improving the energy efficiency of equipment needed for creating comfortable working environment and maintaining cold chains and related trade infrastructure,” said Fukuya Iino, UNIDO Project Manager.

The upgrading of the vocational training facilities and the service sector for refrigerant equipment not only helps the country reach the goals of the Montreal Protocol but also promotes energy efficiency, green business, and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Much of UNIDO’s work related to the Montreal Protocol has occurred in the refrigerator and air condition sector, with more than 450 projects in 61 countries to date.

Find out more about the our work related to the Montreal Protocol here

Publication – UNIDO and the Montreal Protocol

For more information, please contact:

Fukuya Iino

Industrial Development Officer

Montreal Protocol Division

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Mohammadshakir Majeedi

UNIDO Country Representative

UNIDO Afghanistan Office

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AMMAN, 27 February 2018 – One of the most advanced refrigeration systems for supermarkets using CO2 as refrigerant was inaugurated in Jordan today. The official ceremony to unveil the new refrigeration system took place today at the Al Salam supermarket in Amman in the presence of the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Environment, Ahmad Al Qatarneh, representing the Minister of Environment, Nayef Al Fayez.

The project is being implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with the support of the Ministry of Environment of Jordan, funded by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC). “The project implements the first transcritical CO2 refrigeration system in a supermarket in the entire region and is truly state-of-the-art technology. It is considered one of the most energy-efficient and climate-friendly refrigeration technologies for the retail sector,” said Sulafa Mdanat, UNIDO Country Representative in Jordan.

The project seeks to showcase the feasibility of non-hydrofluorocarbon-based technology in high-ambient temperature environments, in the context of the international environmental agreement (the Montreal Protocol) to phase out hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).

Previously, the Al Salam supermarket used a system with a refrigerant that both depleted the ozone layer and contributed to global warming. This system has been replaced by an innovative, environmentally friendly refrigeration system manufactured by an Italian system manufacturer, Enex S.r.l., with display cabinets designed, manufactured and installed by Jordanian company, Abdin Industrial. The wide use of the CO2 refrigeration system is expected to substantially contribute to the protection of the environment, because CO2 has no influence on the ozone layer and a lower global warming potential than HCFCs, as well as increase energy efficiency.

“We are happy and proud to have the trust of and support from the Government of Jordan and the CCAC to together realize such an innovative technology demonstration project that is expected to set a good-practice example for the entire region,” said Stephan Sicars, Director of the Department of Environment, UNIDO.

The Minister of Environment, Nayef Al Fayez, said: “We welcome this great opportunity for Jordan to showcase our pioneering spirit and deep commitment to advancing environmentally friendly solutions in all areas. We are impressed by the high level of technical know-how demonstrated by UNIDO in the implementation of the project and we look forward to sharing results and to seeing replication in the country and the region.”

“We are proud to confirm that Jordan is a global pioneer in refrigeration technologies and we commend the efforts of local companies in moving ahead towards more efficient refrigeration technologies,” affirmed Dina Kisbi, Director of the Climate Change Directorate at the Ministry of Environment.

For technical project details please see Related Documents.

For further information, please contact:

Riccardo Savigliano

UNIDO Industrial Development Officer

Department of Environment

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Sulafa Mdanat

UNIDO Country Representative in Jordan

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VIENNA, 8 November 2017 - With the UN Climate Change Conference (COP23) underway in Bonn, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is restating its support for the Paris Agreement as a crucial step towards achieving a greener, sustainable future.

Industry is the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for nearly one third of total global emissions.

As the UN’s specialized agency promoting industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability, UNIDO is committed to greening the manufacturing process. To achieve the reduction in emissions needed to limit global warming to a two degree Celsius increase, UNIDO is focusing on industrial energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy for productive activities.

According to the International Energy Agency, energy efficiency can achieve 40% of the greenhouse gas emissions reductions needed to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius. A further 35% of the required emissions reductions can be achieved by the use of renewable energy instead of fossil fuels. In this context, UNIDO is supporting enterprises and governments in developing countries and emerging economies with the implementation of energy management systems, as well as in accelerating the deployment of renewable energy, thereby helping them to improve their energy performance, productivity and environmental sustainability.

Most of the controlled substances under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer are potent greenhouse gases. UNIDO supports a large number of countries to completely phase out the production and use of these substances. Thanks to UNIDO’s actions, a reduction of approximately 340 million tonnes of CO2-eq. has been achieved.

Looking ahead, innovation is the key to driving a transformational change to lower-carbon and higher-productivity development. UNIDO is accelerating the development of clean technology climate solutions, especially for the industrial sector.  One example is the UNIDO-GEF Global Cleantech Innovation Programme which supports cleantech start-ups and SMEs to develop innovative climate solutions as profitable business models.

UNIDO is currently implementing over 450 projects to help safeguard the environment, and will continue to work extensively with its Member States and other stakeholders to achieve the targets and goals set by both the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

At COP23, UNIDO will be co-organizing over 24 side-events, covering Industry 4.0, the Climate Technology Centre and Network, the Private Financing Advisory Network, and Nexus and Energy Efficiency Accelerators.

More info on UNIDO's work to safeguard the environment here

VIENNA, 24 November 2017 – On the sidelines of the 7th Least Developed Countries (LDC) Ministerial Conference, hosted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Mohammed Al-Maitami, Minister of Trade and Commerce of the Republic of Yemen, has met the UNIDO Director General, LI Yong. The two discussed future cooperation between Yemen and UNIDO.

Al-Maitami said, “UNIDO, with its experience, has developed a new strategy and pathway in order to assist not only countries in post-conflict situations but also countries that are still suffering conflict, to help them by way to industrialization.” He also called for other developed and donor countries to continue their support to UNIDO’s mandate for countries facing economic challenges.

Between 2008 and 2010, UNIDO successfully implemented a project to completely phase-out chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the refrigeration sector. CFCs are gases that contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. Two other UNIDO projects – to phase-out the use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), another ozone depleting substance, and to prepare activities for compliance with the Minamata Convention on Mercury – are underway.

Al-Maitami said the meeting with UNIDO’s Li was “very fruitful and very encouraging for the way forward for cooperation between UNIDO and Yemen,” adding that “UNIDO’s contribution to sustainable development and poverty reduction is at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals.”