OzonAction Events during the 27th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, 1-5 November 2015, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

1- Technical Forum on Research Projects for Alternative Refrigerants in High Ambient Countries, 31 October 2015 The Forum focused on presenting the findings and outcomes of three key research projects addressed the issue of alternative refrigerants for A/Cs in high ambient operating conditions i.e. PRAHA, AREP-II and US-High Ambient Project. It also offered chance to highlight ongoing related research/work on the high- ambient issue. Presentations by: – Stephen R. Yurek, AHRI – Our Refrigerant Future: Research, Education, Collaboration | Post – 2015 Development Agenda, SDGs – Omar Abdelaziz, ORNL and Suely Carvalho, IPEN – Alternative Refrigerant Evaluation for High Ambient Temperature Environments: R-22 and R-410A Alternatives for Mini-Split Air Conditioners – Karim Amrane and Xudong Wang, AHRI – Update on Phase II of the AHRI Low GWP Alternative Refrigerants Evaluation Program (Low-GWP AREP) – Karim Amrane, AHRI – Update on ASHRAE 15 “Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems” – Walid Chakroun, Kuwait University – Assessment of Alternative Refrigerants – Bassam Elassaad, Independent Expert – Key Findings and Project Outcomes – Tetsuji Okada, JRAIA – Tranistion of Refrigerants for Air-conditioners in High Ambient Temperature Region – Marco Buoni, AREA – Blended Learning for Alternative Refrigerants in High Ambient Countries – Daniel Colbourne and Juergen Usinger, GIZ Proklima – Natural Refrigerants – Safe, Efficient and Reliable Use as Alternatives to HFC   2- Management of ODS in Fisheries, 1 November 2015 The use of refrigeration technology is an essential requirement at all stages of the fisheries industry: from catch to processing, to food plate. One of the most common refrigerants used in the fishing industry is hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC-22), a controlled ozone depleting substance (ODS) under the Montreal Protocol (MP). The fisheries sector, both marine and on-land processing, has so far not been sufficiently studied or engaged in the HCFC-22 phase-out processes. This data gap can have implications for both compliance with the Montreal Protocol and the industry that is dependent on refrigeration technology. Opening by Dr. Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, Head of OzonAction, UNEP DTIE, and H.E. Abdoulaye Balde, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Senegal. Presentations by: – Artie Dubrie, OzonAction UNEP CAP ROAP – Didier Coulomb, International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) – Paul de Larminat, Industry technology provider – Ribanataake Awira, Pacific Islands Fisheries Forum – Miruza Mohamed, Maldives Ministry of Environment and Energy – Vika Rogers, Fiji, Ministry of Local Government, Housing & Environment – Alice Gaustad, Norwegian Environmental Agency   3- Energy Efficiency & Refrigerants Management towards Sustainable Cold Chain, 1 November 2015 Refrigeration is crucial for cold-chain industry and food security which is one of the key post-2015 sustainable development goals recently adopted by world leaders. The integration of food security, energy efficiency and climate actions in combination with managing refrigerants and reducing emissions will be of great value and high impact on economies especially in developing countries. Presentations by: – Didier Coulomb, IIR, Sustainable Cold Chain, Energy Efficiency and Refrigerants Management – Alaa E. Olama, IIR, The Cold Chain in High Ambient Temperature Countries: Challenges, solutions, future technologies and Opportunities.   4- Addressing the challenges of the RAC Servicing Sector, 2 November 2015 The event aims to better understand the importance of certification in ensuring the installation of safe and reliable equipment and provision of quality services through adherence to applicable standards leading to minimizing of refrigerant emissions and thus reducing demand. It will also demonstrate to service technicians and enterprises why it is in their interest to participate in certification schemes. Certification in the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector can act as an ‘added value’ for technicians to prove their competence and proficiency, particularly when they change employers or seek new jobs. Certification is also an important element in customer protection and may prompt customers to put pressure on industry. Presentations by: – Khaled Klaly, UNEP CAP ROWA, Introduction & brief overview of the importance of RAC certification in achieving the desired ODS reduction in the servicing sector – Marco Buoni, Centro Studi Galileo, Establishing and implementing the certification scheme – the development process, the enforcement, registration/certification and monitoring mechanisms, training component – AHRI-UNEP initiative, Refrigerant Driving Licence (RDL)   5- Managing ODSs in Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Sectors, 2 November 2015 Special course for Engineering Colleges/Institutes – Around 10 years back, UNEP cooperated with two academic institutes in West Asia in developing special course for ODS management for engineering undergraduates. The course was offered to senior engineering students in the two universities i.e. Kuwait University (KU) and the American University in Beirut (AUB) where it was successfully introduced for few years. This year, UNEP in cooperation with the government of Lebanon that took the initiative to revise this course, update it in accordance with the latest global policy and technological development triggered by the Montreal Protocol and represent it in a way that can be ready for introduction by any other engineering college/institute. The course is planned to be ready for launching and circulation for interested institutes during the first quarter of 2016. FACT SHEETS Factsheet – Update on New Refrigerants Designations and Safety Classifications – The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide an update on ASHRAE standards for refrigerants and to introduce the new refrigerants that have been awarded an «R» number over the last few years and introduced into the international market. Fact sheet – Management of ODSs in the Global Fishing Industry– Fisheries make a major contribution to the economies of many developing countries through foreign exchange earnings and employment creation. In the Pacific region, for example, the Western and Central Pacific – Commission Area (WCP-CA) reported purse seine fishing produced 1.9 million tonnes of tuna, valued at over US$3.2 billion. Of this, 79 per cent was from the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) member countries. Longline vessels caught an estimated 269,000 tonnes, worth more than US$1.7 billion in WCP-CA in 2014. For more information, please visit OzonAction Branch MOP 27 Webpage See other MOP27 Side events