The United Nations Environment to Support Caribbean Region
During the official opening ceremony of the Caribbean Ozone Officers’ Network Meeting, held at the Radisson Aquatica Hotel, Bridgetown, Barbados, Marco Pinzon, the Regional Network Coordinator, OzonAction, United Nations Environment, Regional Office for Latin America (UNEP-ROLAC) reminded persons present that it has been over 30 years since Governments agreed to protect the ozone layer and to phase out the ozone depleting substances, noting that it will be a challenge to do so, because the potent and harmful chemicals are used in a variety of applications, but are mainly seen in the refrigeration and air conditioning sectors.
He revealed that in October, parties have agreed to control HFCs under the Montreal Protocol Mechanism which meant that all subsidiary bodies, including the UN Environment, need to adjust to the new challenges that were presented as a result of the Kigali Amendment.
Pinzon revealed that the meeting held earlier this week could not have come at a better time, as he believed it was time to start addressing the problems that the Kigali Amendment brought to the table. He said that countries have begun to start collecting relevant information through surveys in order to start to develop sound strategies, stating that for the past three years this has been a good demonstration of the commitment that the Caribbean region has to the Montreal Protocol.