Statement from IIR Director General at MOP37

Esteemed President, distinguished delegates and members of the Montreal Protocol Ozone Secretariat,

 

As the head of the Delegation of the International Institute of Refrigeration, the intergovernmental organisation fostering collaboration and advancing knowledge on all aspects of refrigeration and heat pump technologies globally, I reaffirm our commitment to supporting the objectives of the Montreal Protocol. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the Ozone Secretariat in the preparation of MOP37 and underline the IIR’s continued and full support of the Secretariat’s activities in the vital transition to sustainable refrigeration.

 

After 40 years of global efforts, the ozone layer is on track to recovery, demonstrating the power of science-driven action. The impressive level of cooperation behind this success shows that, when united by a shared purpose, the world can achieve extraordinary things. We must now continue working together to meet the Kigali Amendment’s objectives and limit the global warming potential of HFCs in refrigeration. Meanwhile, extreme heat events are increasing due to climate change, making access to refrigeration crucial for public health, food security, and human dignity. Adapting system designs to withstand extreme temperatures is a key aspect of energy efficiency, as traditional systems often struggle under such conditions. Energy-efficient, climate-resilient designs, low-GWP refrigerants, and integrated cooling and heating strategies are central to ensuring sustainable and reliable refrigeration. And the IIR stands ready to support all countries in the transition toward sustainable, low-emission, and climate-resilient refrigeration.

 

In line with the current discussions at MOP37, the IIR recognises the challenges posed by accessibility, finance, and infrastructural gaps in achieving this transition. We are committed to facilitating knowledge transfer and capacity-building initiatives, as well as our expertise and network to support access to finance, so that all nations can access the necessary resources to develop sustainable refrigeration services for the benefit of all life forms and our planet.

 

The IIR, with its 118 years of international cooperation, firmly believes that a just refrigeration transition and equitable access for all can only be facilitated through collaboration among every refrigeration stakeholder, and evidence-based policy decisions grounded in independent and unbiased scientific knowledge.

 

Building on this long-standing commitment to collaboration, it becomes clear that achieving such collective progress depends on coherent governance and cross-sector coordination.

 

When governance remains fragmented across sectors, we risk compromising our shared environmental and public health objectives. Disconnected approaches can lead to inefficiencies, missed opportunities for synergy, and policies that fall short of addressing the complexity of real-world challenges. Delivering on our commitments requires integrated strategies that connect agriculture, energy, transport, health, and environmental systems in a coherent and collaborative manner - aligned with the One Health approach, which recognises the interdependence of humans, animals, and ecosystems.

 

The IIR therefore encourages all governments to establish national inter-institutional platforms to coordinate sustainable refrigeration efforts across all applications and bring together relevant stakeholders. Refrigeration and heat pumps are critical infrastructures, and the only way to properly advance health, food security, energy efficiency, and sustainability via a truly all-encompassing strategy.

 

Moving forward, through scientific evidence and enhanced collaboration, the IIR is eager to work with all governments and organisations to strengthen cooperation on refrigeration and positively impact national food systems, public health, industrial development, and the environment.

 

Thank you.