Cold Link Africa January / February 2020 | Page 21

EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
Various Article 5 countries noted that
both availability of and access to
efficient technologies are unevenly
distributed globally. Colombia,
supported by the European Union and
Australia, requested that international
efficiency standards be developed,
additional policy measures be explored,
and, international cooperation and
knowledge-sharing be emphasised.
In addition, Colombia, supported
by Argentina, requested the
Multilateral-Fund (MLF) support greater
cooperation and capacity building in
countries facing availability limitations
or higher costs in implementing high-
efficiency technologies. Canada
noted that the committee has already
committed to supporting countries
with training programmes to introduce
energy efficient technologies and
identifying best practices for energy
efficiency.
The MOP requested that the TEAP
prepare a report for MOP 32 that
addresses any new developments with
respect to best practices, availability,
accessibility, and cost of energy-efficient
technologies in the RACHP sector in
support of the Kigali Amendment.
KIGALI RATIFICATION UPDATE
The meeting reported that 88 parties
have ratified the Kigali Amendment
COLD LINK AFRICA •
January/February 2020
to the Montreal Protocol. Armenia,
Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Kenya,
Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe
said that their ratification is underway.
Argentina, Guinea, Malaysia and
Mozambique emphasized their intention
to deposit instruments of ratification with
the UN shortly.
Malaysia and Uganda asked that
alternatives to HFCs be made available
in Article 5 countries at reasonable and
competitive prices. Cambodia, Iran,
Myanmar, and Nicaragua called for
more financial and technical support
for Ozone Depleting Substances phase
out. Argentina urged that the MLF
complete the cost guidelines to fund
the HFC phase down, while Indonesia
and Lebanon requested more support
for capacity building and technological
assistance in finding future feasible
alternative to HFCs.
OEWG 41 co-chair Laura Juliana
Arciniegas counselled parties that have
not yet done so to ratify.
NEW TOOL ON LOW-GWP SAFETY
STANDARDS
In a side event, t0he United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) Ozone
Secretariat introduced its online tool for
safety standards for flammable low-
GWP refrigerants. The EU stressed that
revised safety standards are crucial
for the implementation of the Kigali
Amendment.
This interactive tool presents a non-
exhaustive list of international, regional
and national safety standards relevant to
RACHP equipment developed by relevant
Standards Organisations.
The tool can be accessed free on
UNEP website.
MOP 32
The President of MOP 31, Martin Alvin
Da Breo (Grenada), officially closed the
MOP 31 meeting thanking the Montreal
Protocol’s “dedicated soldiers for a job
well done.” 
The Joint 12th Conference of the
Parties to the Vienna Convention for
the Protection of the Ozone Layer (COP
12) and 32nd Meeting of the Parties to
the Montreal Protocol on Substances
that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MOP 32)
will review the implementation of the
Convention and the Protocol. Dates
were set for 23 – 27 November 2020 and
Uzbekistan has offered to host the event
in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
CFC-11 emissions problem
under control
The topic of CFC-11 emissions
was discussed in multiple sessions
throughout the week. In the Scientific
Assessment Panel (SAP)’s interim report,
it stated that it has worked with the
scientific community to address CFC-11
emissions. It noted that the estimated
increase in global emissions of CFC-11
from 2014-2016 is not currently a threat
to the ozone layer, and that updated
measurements post-2017 suggest
that the global CFC-11 emissions are
declining. However, if these emissions
were to continue at a sustained rate,
they could pose a threat.
The future of the ozone layer 
Representatives from task teams
presented a ‘synthesis report’ on the
ozone layer, noting that:
• The implementation of the Protocol
has significantly lowered the
occurrence of cataract and skin
cancer.
• The year 2019 has marked the
smallest ozone hole since 1983 due
to unusual meteorological conditions
not related to climate change. 
• The decline of methyl bromide in the
atmosphere has ceased.
• Carbon tetrachloride (CTC) emissions
are higher than expected due to
unaccounted for emission sources
and revised CTC lifetimes. 
• Understanding ODS banks is key to
understanding ozone recovery. CLA
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