COP29 Buildings and Cooling Pavilion

Managing Refrigerants Banks for Cooler Future

Event description

The Montreal Protocol has been pivotal in phasing out ozone depleting substances (ODS), used as refrigerants in various applications like air-conditioning, refrigeration, foams, and fire extinguishers. However, the existing ODS banks – defined as the total amounts of these substances still contained in equipment, and products not yet released into the atmosphere, represent significant, hidden climate challenge, because many of ODS are also potent greenhouse gases. This event will explore the magnitude of this threat and discuss effective strategies for managing and destroying the banks to prevent their leakage into the atmosphere. Solutions include life-cycle refrigerant management through leak prevention, recovery and reuse and safe destruction, which requires an effective policy framework and funding. Managing banks can generate valuable carbon offset credits under the Paris Agreement through national and voluntary carbon trading mechanisms. The policy framework can be linked to the extended producer responsibility scheme used for waste management and circular economy approaches.

Agenda

Setting the Scene

• Introduction into the Issue: Estimation of ODS Banks and Why This is the Problem
• Speaker: Helen Walter Terrinoni, Technology and Economic Assessment Panel

Discussion of Solutions

• Life Cycle Refrigerant Management: Policy Approaches and Business Models
• Speakers:
  • GIZ Proklima Climate and Ozone Protection Alliance (online)
  • Anderson Alvis, UNDP
  • Japan
  • Grenada
  • Australia
  • India/CEEW
  • A-gas
  • Daikin

Conclusions and Wrap Up