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*[[Environmental organisation]]
*[[Environmental organisation]]
*[[Ozone layer depletion|Ozone Science]]
*[[Ozone layer depletion|Ozone Science]]
*[[OzonAction on Methyl Bromide]]
*[[Ation on Methyl Bromide]]
*[[OzonAction on HCFC's]]
*[[Action on HCFC's]]
*[[Approaches to Capacity Building]]
*[[Action on Capacity Building]]
*[[OzonAction's Partnerships]]
*[[Partnerships]]


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 13:35, 14 September 2010

OzonAction
Established1991
TypeInternational organization
Head
Dr. Rajendra Shende
Parent organization
UNEP
Websitehttp://www.uneptie.org/ozonaction/

OzonAction Programme

OzonAction is a branch of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This branch, which has its headquarters in Paris, is part of UNEP's Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE). It assists developing countries and countries with economies in transition (CEITs) so that they can achieve and sustain their compliance with the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. OzonAction is a team of ozone protection specialists located in Paris and in UNEP's Regional Offices for Africa (Nariobi, Kenya), Asia & the Pacific (Bangkok, Thailand), Latin America and the Caribbean (Panama City, Panama), and West Asia (Manama, Bahrain). The Branch provides assistance to the countries to enable them to make informed decisions about alternative technologies and ozone-friendly policies.

The Branch has implemented more than 1,000 projects and services that benefit more than 100 developing countries and 17 CEITs, plus other services that assist another 40 developing countries.[1]. The branch is currently headed by Mr. Rajendra Shende.[2]

OzonAction has three areas of work:[1]

  1. Assisting developing countries in UNEP's capacity as an Implementing Agency of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol, through a Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP)[3];
  2. Assisting CEITs in UNEP's capacity as an Implementing Agency of the Global Environment Facility; and
  3. Specific partnerships with bilateral agencies and Governments. The Governments of the Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have also provided bilateral support to UNEP over and above their contribution to the Multilateral Fund[4] to undertake specific projects.

Genesis and Structure

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer calls on nations around the world to take concrete actions to reduce and eliminate the production and consumption of ozone depleting substances (ODS). Recognising that developing (Article 5) countries require special technical and financial assistance in order to meet their commitments, the Parties to the Protocol established the Multilateral Fund. UNEP, UNDP, UNIDO and the World Bank are the Fund’s Implementing Agencies. In addition to this, the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) is another financial mechanism with prioritized support for CEITs.

Since 1991, the UNEP Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE) OzonAction Programme has strengthened the capacity of governments -- particularly National Ozone Units (NOUs) -- and industry in developing countries and in CEITs to elaborate and enforce the policies required to implement the Protocol and make informed decisions about alternative technologies. This has been accomplished through:

Global Clearinghouse Services and Regional Networks of NOUs that promote the exchange of information, experience and know-how required to meet Montreal Protocol commitments, report data, set and enforce policies, adopt technologies and effectively manage the NOU.

Regional and country-specific support activities that primarily assist low-volume consuming countries (LVCs) which lack major investment projects. National activities include the preparation of Country Programmes (CPs), Refrigerant Management Plans (RMPs), Terminal Phase Out Management Plans (TPMPs), associated Institutional Strengthening (IS) projects and training. Regional activities include training workshops to promote regional co-operation and RMP implementation. In addition, UNEP supports ozone protection activities in CEITs.

Strategy Reorientation for Compliance Assistance : In response to the changing needs and priorities of Article 5 countries during the compliance period, UNEP reoriented its programme strategy and delivery mechanisms in 2002 by transforming its overall work strategy into the Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP). In line with the Executive Committee’s strategic planning, the CAP leaves ‘business as usual’ behind in two significant ways:

  • UNEP has moved from a project management approach to direct implementation, using a team of professionals with appropriate skills and expertise who directly assist countries to support and sustain compliance.
  • UNEP has regionalised delivery of projects and services by placing its regional offices at the forefront of project implementation and interaction with the countries. The majority of the CAP team is based is UNEP’s regional offices where they work more closely with the countries on an ongoing basis. UNEP believes that this innovative approach may set a trend in supporting compliance with other multilateral environmental agreements.

Funding Sources

Between 1991 and July 2004, OzonAction received more than US$ 90 million from the Multilateral Fund, GEF and other bilateral agencies. It is now one of the largest regionalized programs of UNEP and operates from Paris, France.

The Multilateral Fund and OzonAction

The Multilateral Fund for the implementation of the Montreal Protocol began its operation in 1991. The Fund's main objective is to assist developing country parties to the Montreal Protocol whose annual per capita consumption and production of ozone-depleting substances is less than 0.3 kg to comply with the control measures of the Protocol. These countries are referred to as Article 5 countries.

Responsibility for overseeing the operation of the Fund rests with the Executive Committee comprising seven members each from Article 5 countries and non-Article 5 countries. Through the Fund, more than US$2.5 billion have been disbursed to 147 developing countries to enable them to comply with the Montreal Protocol through approved activities including industrial conversion, technical assistance, training and capacity building. The Committee is assisted by the Fund Secretariat which is based in Montreal.

File:Funding.jpg
Projects Implemented under the MF and GEF facilities

As mentioned before, activities are implemented by four international agencies - UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO, World Bank - and a number of bilateral implementing agencies of donor countries.

The Global Environment Facility

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is an international financial mechanism with 176 member countries that addresses global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. GEF grants support projects in developing countries related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer and persistent organic pollutants. GEF’s implementing agencies—the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Bank—share credit for GEF’s measurable on-the-ground achievements. Since its inception in 1992, GEF has achieved a strong track record of support to developing countries and countries with economies in transition, providing $6.2 billion in grants and leveraging $20 billion in co-financing for over 1,800 projects in 140 countries. Through its Small Grants Programme (SGP), GEF has also made more than 7,000 small grants, up to $50,000 each, directly to nongovernmental organizations and community organizations.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Ozone Focal Area was developed specifically for the support of Countries with Economies in Transition (CEITs) to achieve ozone depleting substances (ODS) phase out and bring countries into compliance, as the Multilateral Fund does for developing countries under the Montreal Protocol. As this compliance is the ultimate objective of any Ozone GEF project, and the Ozone Focal Area is the only focal area linked with a time-targeted compliance schedule.

The National Ozone Units

One of the focal points under the Montreal Protocol was the creation of an agency at the national level as a focal point for facilitating the implementation of a Multilateral Environmental Agreement. These focal units are called the National Ozone Unit (NOU). Member country Government's thus should designate a Ministry, Department, or Agency responsible for the Agreement, and within it a focal point who has the responsibility, mandate, and status required to carry out the daily work of implementing the international agreement at the national level. By doing so, the Government demonstrates ownership of the implementation process, which is instrumental in ensuring success of the Agreement.[5]

The NOU is responsible for managing and monitoring the national strategy for phasing out ozone-depleting substances (ODS) as specified in the Country Programme to comply with the Montreal Protocol. The NOU is also responsible for reporting data and undertaking awareness raising activities. NOUs are established and supported through Institutional Strengthening projects under the Multilateral Fund. Thus the NOU is the primary channel through which international ozone protection assistance flows to stakeholders in the State.

Broadly the activities of the NOUs are as follows:[6]

  • Implementation of the MP programme in the country in the framework of the Country Programme;
  • Data survey and collection of ODSs data;
  • Establishment of ODS monitoring and licensing quota system;
  • Awareness training through the press, radio and TV, public workshops, printed media, educational institutes;
  • Cooperation with domestic organizations and institutions;
  • Cooperation with international organizations and institutions;
  • Initiate the adaptation of environmental legislation;
  • Identification of companies in need of conversion to ozone-friendly substances.
  • Monitoring of all conversion activities;
  • Promotional activities - Participation to and/or organization of events:
    • Meetings organized by UNEP and the Multilateral Fund (Executive Committee, Meeting of Parties);
    • Regional networking meetings of Ozone Officers, organized by UNEP;
    • Ozone Day (16 September)

Cost effectiveness has also been achieved by operating the Networks through UNEP’s Regional Offices, which provide infrastructure support and serve as their centres of operation.The RNCs are based in the respective Regional Offices, i.e. the Regional Office for Asia and Pacific (Bangkok), Regional Office for Africa(Nairobi), the Regional Office for West Asia (Bahrain) and the Regional Office for Latin America and Caribbean (Mexico City).

The development of this efficient management system has also facilitated and aided in inter-agency co-operation: Mr. Si-Ahmed, Chief of Methyl Bromide Unit, Montreal Protocol Branch, UNIDO (2002) stated:

"Regional Networks have assisted UNIDO in providing information on countries they are covering and facilitated contacts with high-ranking officials from Article 5 countries.This allowed for speedy treatment of pending issues in addition to fostering closer relations with the countries. Network meetings have contributed to a better understanding of the countries’ problems through face to face discussions with ozone officersand, importantly, their supervisors, which proved to be very helpful since such opportunities are rather rare. In addition, Network meetings provided for a for discussions and exchange of views with both ozone officers and Implementing Agencies (IAs), not to forget the opportunity to coordinate -on the spot- activities among IAs in the same country. Finally, Regional Networks have certainly helped in better understanding the decisions taken by the Excom/Parties and have thus assisted IAs in carrying their tasks, particularly in view of the many decisions and new trends"

Furthermore, Suely Carvalho, Chief of Montreal Protocol Unit for UNDP (2002) also weighed in, stating:

"Regional Networks have provided UNDP with a valuable opportunity to meet with national ozone officers and discuss ways to better assist them in meeting their compliance targets. Discussions held in a friendly and pleasant atmosphere have helped to resolve data discrepancies and accelerate project implementation, exchange experiences on substantive issues and find ways to improve national Montreal Protocol programming in general.They also provide the opportunity for NOUs and implementing agencies working in a country to discuss coordination of programming efforts and identify future challenges so as to best serve the compliance needs of a country."

Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP)

Through its OzonAciton Programme, UNEP is one of the four Implementing Agencies (other are UNIDO, UNDP and The World Bank)[7] that provides assistance to developing countries which are a Party to the Montreal Protocol, also known as Article 5 countries[8]. This assistance is geared to help A-5 countries meet their compliance requirements under the Protocol.

It was in 2002, that through its Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP), OzonAction reinvented its approach in delivering services such that the Parties are given quicker access to guidance and information and are given greater ownership of the projects through proactive participation. This was made possible by decentralizing project management from Paris to the Regional Offices in Mexico City (for Latin America and the Caribbean region), Bangkok (for Southeast Asia and the Pacific region), Nairobi (for Africa) and Bahrain (for West Asia region). In 2005, a new regional network was established to cover Parties from Eastern Europe and Central Asia and is currently operating from the Paris office.

The Capacity Building Team (CBT) was given the mandate to oversee and monitor the implementation of projects and activities aimed at enabling the Parties to meet its compliance commitments. The team in Paris acts as a central liaising unit with the other Implementing Agencies and the Ozone and Fund Secretariats.

On a regional level, the CAP teams, with their proximity to the countries, are able to respond and provide assistance more quickly to the Parties. The regular interaction with country representatives enables the regional teams to identify the needs and develop regional or national initiatives to facilitate and expedite compliance with the MP measures. The CAP provides the following services to developing countries:

File:Regionalnetworks.jpg
OzonAction's Regional Coverage

South-South cooperation: Regional Networks of Ozone Officers: - a highly-successful and cost effective capacity building mechanism that promotes the exchange of information, experience and know-how required to meet the Montreal Protocol commitments, report data, set and enforce policies, adopt technologies and effectively manage the NOUs. The success of the networking mechanism pioneered under the Montreal Protocol has provided the inspiration and model for a new South East Asia Climate Network also being implemented by UNEP.

Capacity building activities: help developing countries and CEITs build national capacity of strategic stakeholders (customs officers, refrigeration technicians, Ozone Officers) and create an enabling environment for the implementation of national ODS phase-out programmes. The action includes assistance for policy, enforcement and customs, as well as management of refrigerants, halon and methyl bromide leading to their phase-out. The Information Clearinghouse is a major instrument that UNEP utilizes to promote the overall visibility of the Montreal Protocol and the Multilateral Fund achievements and to support the development and implementation of regional and national information, education and communication strategies and products.

Technology support: through case-studies, workshops, technology sourcebooks and good practices manuals, CAP provides direct services to developing countries on ozone - and climate-friendly technologies.

Programme Components

A collection of links for further information on the initiatives and mechanisms of the programme.

References

  1. ^ a b http://www.uneptie.org/ozonAction/about/index.htm
  2. ^ http://www.unep.fr/ozonaction/about/staff_details.asp?code=RMS
  3. ^ Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP)
  4. ^ Multilateral Fund
  5. ^ http://www.unep.org/dec/onlinemanual/Compliance/NationalImplementation/NationalFocalPoints/Resource/tabid/674/Default.aspx
  6. ^ http://www.unido.org/index.php?id=o16690
  7. ^ http://web.worldbank.org
  8. ^ Article 5 countries

External links

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