UNIDO Environment

16/10/2026

Air conditioners contribute to climate change – this 40‑year‑old treaty aims to limit the harm

https://theconversation.com/air-conditioners-contribute-to-climate-change-this-40-year-old-treaty-aims-to-limit-the-harm-293262

University of Bristol I University of York
Ozone Secretariat I UN Climate Change I UNIDO Environment I

15/10/2026

Ten years of the Kigali Amendment: Industry, Innovation, and a Cooler Future.
Climate ambition and industrial development can go hand in hand.

The Kigali Amendment builds on the Montreal Protocol, a beacon of successful climate action, and it works because industry delivers. The Kigali Amendment is improving lives while reducing emissions.

works with governments, businesses, and partners around the world to turn global commitments into tangible results on the ground.

Gerd Müller

15/10/2026

Ten years of Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol
The bridge to a cooler planet

15/10/2026

10 years ago, the world made a promise to cool the planet. Today we celebrate keeping it. 🎉

In October 2016, countries gathered in Kigali, Rwanda, and agreed to phase down Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). These gases are used in fridges and air conditioners and can trap heat thousands of times more powerfully than carbon dioxide. That deal became the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.

What it has achieved, and why it matters to you:
🌍 So far, 175 countries have ratified.
🌡️ It could avoid up to 0.5°C of global warming by 2100.
❄️ HFC use is set to fall by 80–85% by 2047
💡 Add more energy-efficient cooling and the benefit could nearly double.

The Montreal Protocol already put the ozone layer on the road to recovery. The Kigali Amendment to the Protocol shows that countries, industries and communities can work together again, this time for climate action. 💚

Behind the numbers are factories, engineers and technicians in many countries switching to cleaner, more efficient cooling. UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization, as an implementing agency of the Montreal Protocol, is proud to support them on their journey towards Sustainable Industrialization.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIL6u5pc3aQ

👉 Share this post if you believe global cooperation works.
🔗 Learn more: unido.org/MontrealProtocol



Ozone Secretariat I UN Climate Change I

Kigali – demonstrating the history behind the Kigali Amendment phas...

13/10/2026

‘Train the Trainers’ sessions in Bosnia-Herzegovina on safe handling of refrigerants

Twenty-three refrigeration and air conditioning technology trainers, drawn from across the country attended the four day practical trainings on safe handling of refrigerants conducted in Banja Luka and Sarajevo cities in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relationship, the National Ozone Unit, supported by UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Hercegovina (Vanjskotrgovinska - Spoljnotrgovinska komora BiH) organized the sessions at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Banja Luka and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Sarajevo. These trainers will transfer the acquired knowledge and practical skills to service technicians throughout the country.

Conducted as a follow-up to the training held in April 2026, these sessions focused on the practical aspects on the safe use of flammable refrigerants, primarily focusing on hydrocarbons (Propane, R290). Themes covered include Safety aspects of working with R‐290, flammability, risks, Personal protective equipment and safety procedures, service procedures and good practices, Refrigerant recovery, charging and leak detection, Risk management and emergencies among others.

A skilled workforce is an important element in the safe and proper handling of refrigerants as well as the development of modern and climate-friendly technologies, playing a crucial role in addressing climate challenges.

Ozone Secretariat I UN Climate Change I

Irma Lizde I Azra Rogovic Grubic I Vasil Eftimov I Adela Vukotić-Terek I Mašinski fakultet Univerziteta u Sarajevu I Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Banja Luka I

12/10/2026

Building a Sustainable Cooling Future: Venezuela's Refrigerant Regeneration Centres address climate challenges

Giving a boost to Venezuela’s efforts to address climate action and circular economy practices, two Refrigerant Recovery, Recycling, and Reclamation (RRR) centres, Centro de Recuperación de Refrigerantes “Francisco de Miranda” (Cenare) and ELGAS continue to strengthen the refrigerant gas management capabilities in Venezuela.

This action strengthens Venezuela's capacity to recover, recycle, and reclaim refrigerants, reducing emissions of fluorinated gases, which are potent greenhouse gases. These centres will also continue to help promote circular economy practices and the environmentally sound management of refrigerants in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector.

Undertaken as a part of the Hydrochloroflourocarbon (HCFC) Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) in Venezuela, it is implemented by UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization in close collaboration with The Venezuelan Fund Foundation for Industrial and Technological Reconversion (Fundación Fondo de Reconversión Industrial y Tecnológica (Fondoin).

While new infrastructure is expanding refrigerant recovery and regeneration capacity, the project is equally focused on developing the skills needed for a sustainable cooling future. Students, refrigeration technicians and industry professionals are being trained in Good Refrigeration Practices, refrigerant recovery, leak prevention and the safe handling of refrigerants, helping create a stronger and more environmentally responsible refrigeration workforce.

In parallel, customs and enforcement officers are receiving specialized training to strengthen refrigerant trade monitoring and identify refrigerants of suspicious origin, supporting efforts to combat illegal trade and ensure compliance with the Montreal Protocol.

Together, these achievements highlight how investments in infrastructure, people, and institutions can drive the transition to sustainable cooling, accelerate the phase-out of HCFCs, and support environmental protection and circular economy practices in Venezuela.

Pics: FONDOIN, UNIDO



Ozone Secretariat I UN Climate ChangeI Ministerio del Poder Popular de Industrias y Producción Nacional I Venacor I Ministerio de Comercio Nacional

06/10/2026

Advancing Sustainable Cooling and Industrial Skills in Zambia--Northern Technical College gets specialized equipment

The Northern Technical College (NORTEC) in Ndola is set to transform into a premier regional training and retrofitting hub for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) sector.

Under the Hydrochlorofluorocarbon Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP), UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization, in collaboration with the Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), transferred the specialized cooling equipment to the college. The package consists of advanced diagnostic, recovery, and training tools, including portable refrigerant identifiers, electronic leak detectors, manifold sets, portable refrigerant recovery units, among others.

As Zambia's HVAC/R sector grows to meet urbanization and industrial demand, it faces critical needs to transition toward energy-efficient, low-global-warming-potential technologies and reduce ozone-depleting substances.

NORTEC, with an enrolment of around 6,800 students across its engineering and technical disciplines, plays a vital role in meeting this demand. Beyond the campus classrooms, technicians from across the region will master the safe handling of refrigerants, while local enterprises benefit from a structured equipment-hire model.

On a national level, this initiative aligns with UNIDO’s Programme for Country Partnership (P*P) and Zambia's climate commitments under the and the Kigali Amendment. By bridging technical education with practical application, this milestone elevates 's skills development landscape, safeguards the environment against ozone depletion, and fuels sustainable green industrialization for the nation's future.



Ozone Secretariat I UN Climate Change I Northern Technical College

05/10/2026

Expert exchange programme studies Ozone Depleting Substance (ODS) and life-cycle refrigerant management practices in Japan

A delegation from participated in a four-day expert exchange programme in Japan, which focused on themes like Ozone depleting Substances (ODS) Banks Management, Mobile Air Conditioning (MAC) sector, life-cycle refrigerant management, circular economy approach, among others.

The exchange programme was aimed at sharing Japanese experience in these areas, with a view to inform Türkiye’s future work. The delegation, comprising of officials from the National Ozone Unit, Directorate of Climate Change, Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, shared their experiences in ODS and Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) management in Türkiye. The Japanese counterparts from Ministry of the Environment, Japan and Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) explained Japan's Fluorocarbon Law and quota system, followed by an open discussion between the delegations.

Among the various sites the delegation visited include JFE Urban Recycle in Kawasaki, Car-Repo in Hitachi, Daikin Tsukuba Training Centre, Create Co., Ltd. in Saitama, Mayekawa Moriya Plant, etc.

At a meeting organized by UNIDO ITPO Tokyo, the delegation discussed key lessons learned and identified potential areas for future UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization-Türkiye–Japan cooperation.

The exchange strengthened technical dialogue among Türkiye, Japan, and UNIDO Environment while demonstrating how sound policies, effective recovery infrastructure, skilled technicians, and climate-friendly technologies can support comprehensive lifecycle refrigerant management.



Ozone Secretariat I UN Climate Change I

T.C. Çevre, Şehircilik ve İklim Değişikliği Bakanlığı I

02/10/2026

New York, 21-25 September 2026 – The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) participated in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81), engaging extensively with the United Nations and international partners, high-level representatives of Member States, a...