ShareMOP35: aid funds against dumping of inefficient cooling equipment
At MOP35, it was decided to allocate more aid funds to developing countries and to take measures against the dumping of inefficient cooling equipment containing obsolete refrigerants.
During the 35th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (MOP-35) held on 23 – 27 October 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya, the Parties adopted the largest ever replenishment of the Multilateral Fund (MLF) for the implementation of the Protocol. Close to USD 1 billion will be allocated to assist developing countries in implementing their obligations under the Protocol and its Kigali Amendment, with a strong focus on shifting away from harmful greenhouses gases and substances with high global warming potential (GWP). [1]
Several countries have adopted increasingly stringent Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS), such as Brazil, China, India and Japan. Unfortunately, the policies in many importing countries are not at the same level. According to a recent report, 74% of room air conditioners (RAC) sold in six South-East Asian countries do not meet minimum threshold set by China’s MEPS. [2] In Africa, air conditioners containing R22 account for almost half (47%) of the market. [3]
Concerning the import and export of prohibited cooling equipment, MOP35 delegates adopted the draft decision submitted by the African Group, led by Ghana. [1]
The final decision on the matter was that MOP 35:
- requests the Executive Committee of the MLF to consider allocating funding within Kigali Implementation Plans (KIPs) and HCFC phase-out management plans (HPMPs) for assisting importing Article 5 Parties to develop and enforce policies and measures that will prevent future non-compliance caused by the import of prohibited cooling equipment;
- urges Parties exporting such equipment to consider instituting measures to prohibit the export of cooling equipment relying on controlled substances and that is no longer permitted to be placed on the market in the exporting Party.
Sources
[1] Summary report, 22–27 October 2023. 35th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MOP35). https://enb.iisd.org/montreal-protocol-meeting-parties-ozone-mop35-summary
[2] CLASP 2023. Pathways to Prevent Dumping of Climate Harming Room Air Conditioners in Southeast Asia. https://www.clasp.ngo/research/all/pathways-to-prevent-dumping-of-climate-harming-room-air-conditioners-in-southeast-asia/
[3] CLASP 2020. Environmentally Harmful Dumping of Inefficient and Obsolete Air Conditioners in Africa. https://www.clasp.ngo/research/all/environmentally-harmful-dumping-of-inefficient-and-obsolete-air-conditioners-in-africa/