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Tirana hosted today the Second Annual Ozone and Climate Forum, an event aimed at strengthening Albania’s commitments to protecting the ozone layer and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Organized by the Ministry of Environment and the National Ozone Unit, in cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the forum brought together policymakers, experts, and technicians from the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector to discuss Albania’s obligations under the Montreal Protocol and its EU integration process.
Minister of Environment Sofjan Jaupaj emphasized that Albania is moving rapidly toward full alignment with European Union standards under Chapter 27 – Environment and Climate Change. He highlighted the new legal measures for controlling HFC/HCFC refrigerants and the country’s commitment to preventing their release into the atmosphere at the end of the life cycle of cooling equipment.
“A key element of this new framework is the requirement that the recovery, recycling, reclamation, or destruction of fluorinated greenhouse gases be carried out only by individuals or entities holding the appropriate certification. It is important to stress that certification is conducted in full compliance with EU standards. This standardization ensures technical professionalism, environmental protection, and safety for workers and consumers. Through these reforms, Albania is preparing to advance in negotiations under Chapter 27. Our legal framework on fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances will further align with the EU’s latest regulations, laying the foundations for a more sustainable economy and a market that operates according to European standards,” stated the Minister, praising the contribution of the National Ozone Unit in this process.
Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Enkelejda Muçaj, underlined the importance of energy efficiency as one of the key pillars for reducing emissions and protecting the climate. She stressed that achieving national and EU targets requires strengthened institutional cooperation, particularly between the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Environment.
Participants also addressed the country’s challenges and priorities in implementing the 3R system — Recovery, Recycling, and Reuse of refrigerant gases — a new practice for Albania and a key requirement under EU legislation aimed at reducing high-global-warming-potential gases.
During the discussions, participants highlighted the need to:
- strengthen the legal and sub-legal framework for managing quotas and licenses;
- provide technicians with mandatory training and certification;
- invest in equipment for the recovery and recycling of refrigerant gases;
- prohibit the release of HCFC/HFC gases into the atmosphere at the end of the life cycle of cooling equipment;
- revise the refrigerant gas legislation and further align it with European Union standards;
- increase oversight and compliance checks for economic operators.
Representatives of UNIDO and UNEP praised Albania’s progress in meeting international commitments, reaffirming their continued technical support during the country’s transition toward cleaner and more efficient technologies.
They emphasized Albania’s adherence to international standards and its readiness to advance modernization projects in the refrigerant sector. They also confirmed ongoing support for the training and certification of RAC technicians, as well as for strengthening national capacity in the recovery, recycling, and reclamation of refrigerant gases.
One of the key conclusions of the Second Annual Ozone and Climate Forum was that the implementation of the 3R system in the refrigerant sector is essential for EU integration, climate protection, and the establishment of a modern and safe cooling-equipment market in Albania.
