Government structures

Georgia has officially adopted the Kigali Amendment, becoming the 151st country to do so.

At an extraordinary meeting of the European Union Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) in Strasbourg, the state of negotiations between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission, the so-called trilogue, was discussed. The purpose of the trilogue is to reach a preliminary agreement that would be accepted by both the EU Parliament and the Council. The role of the European Commission is to mediate between the parties.

The much-awaited agreement to revise the European F-Gas Regulation (517/2014) is not expected this month.

Spain, having submitted a provisional application for compliance with the Kigali Amendment in January 2022, has now formally acceded to the agreement to phase out HFC refrigerants.

The Commonwealth of The Bahamas has become the latest country to ratify the Kigali Amendment to phase down HFC refrigerants.

Border police from the Vicovu de Sus have intercepted more illegal refrigerant being smuggled across the border from Ukraine.

Leading European industry groups have expressed continuing concerns at the F-gas proposals despite the more industry-friendly stance adopted by the Council of Ministers.

The EU Council of Ministers has taken a more relaxed approach to the F-gas regulations, easing the quota step down and pushing back some of the proposed product bans.

EU greenhouse gas emissions increased by 6.2% from 2020 to 2021 but remained at lower level than before the pandemic, the latest European Environment Agency (EEA) report reveals.

The European Commission has opened its call for evidence on its proposed heat pump action plan to accelerate deployment of the technology in the EU.

ASHRAE has released a new standard to measure zero net carbon and energy goals in buildings.

The organisation behind the Global Cooling Prize claims that current air conditioning testing standards and performance ratings fall short in the context of a warming world.

A new website launched by the International Network for Women in Cooling (INWIC) will act as a hub for the organisation and its members.

Customs officers in Romania continue to intercept illegal refrigerant being smuggled into the country from Ukraine.

EU greenhouse gas emissions decreased 4% in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared with the same quarter of 2021, according to latest figures from Eurostat.

This year’s World Refrigeration Day on June 26 will focus on the future of cooling technology, the industry, the people working within it, and those that benefit from cooling.

New analysis has found increasing emissions of several ozone-depleting chemicals despite their production being banned for most uses under the Montreal Protocol—and a loophole in the rules is likely responsible.

Niger submitted the first ever Kigali Implementation Plan (KIP) that will help the country comply with the requirements under the Kigali Amendment, which is a pioneering and a forward-looking step. A discussion with the National Ozone Officer of Niger, Ali Seydou Moussa and an International Technical Expert, Bassam Elassaad, on the factors leading to the plan in the interview below.

The Republic of Moldova will gradually reduce, starting 1 January 2024, the import and use of fluorinated greenhouse gases and will replace them with natural cooling agents, according to the provisions of the new law on fluorinated greenhouse gases, voted in the final reading by the Parliament. The law was developed with the support of the EU4Climate project, financed by the European Union and implemented by UNDP Moldova and is to enter into force six months after its publication. Until now, the import and use of F-gases was not regulated in Moldova.

UNEP’s OzonAction Asia-Pacific Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) team in collaboration with the Government of Vietnam organized a Network Meeting of Southeast Asia (SEA) National Ozone Officers (NOOs) in Halong City from 13-15 March 2023 to facilitate the Network countries to share experiences/good practices in various areas under the Montreal Protocol. The meeting was also a platform to facilitate regional cooperation between SEA NOOs and Customs authorities to further strengthen enforcement of licensing system through integrated approaches at the Twinning National Ozone Officers – Customs Workshop on ODS/HFC Trade Control and Reporting held from 16–17 March 2023.