Workplans | New! ASHRAE and UNEP Sign 2024-2025 Work Plan
ASHRAE President Ginger Scoggins and Jim Curlin, Head of OzonAction under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), signed a new agreement for a 2024-2025 Work Plan, themed “Refrigerant Management for Climate Protection and Energy Efficiency in Developing Economies.” The plan’s emphasis is on making tools and programs for sound management of refrigerants available and accessible to stakeholders in developing countries.
ASHRAE UNEP Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) | (2024)
Completion of the UNEP ASHRAE Work Plan 2021-2023
ASHRAE and UNEP OzonAction Sign 2021-2023 Work Plan
ASHRAE and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) collaborate under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019. The MOU, which replaces a Cooperation Agreement signed in 2007, enables UNEP to access industry experts in all fields relating to refrigerant development and application, air conditioning and refrigeration. The second benefit of the collaboration is that the products produced inspire confidence and global acceptance because of their reliance on ASHRAE standards, research and other ASHRAE resources. Thirdly, ASHRAE’s presence through members, chapters and associate societies covering more than 130 nations, provides a multi-national platform, especially in developing countries, for development of locally relevant technical guidance.
ASHRAE UNEP collaboration functions with a biennial work plan. The 2017-18 Plan, now complete, was themed “Working Beyond High GWP Refrigerants.” The 2019-20 Plan, also now complete, was themed “Refrigerant Management for Developing Countries.” The partnership now functions under a 2021-23 Work Plan.
A senior coordinating team oversees execution of the work plan to ensure timely implementation and to provide follow-up as needed.
ASHRAE UNEP Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) | (2019)
ASHRAE and UN Environment Programme Launch Three-Year Workplan
ATLANTA (April 15, 2021) – ASHRAE and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced the launch of its 2021-23 workplan. The workplan’s theme is “Refrigeration Management for Developing Economies” and was signed by Charles E. Gulledge III, P.E., 2020-21 ASHRAE President and James S. Curlin, Acting Head of UNEP OzonAction Programme.
In 2007, ASHRAE and UNEP OzonAction, signed an agreement aimed at promoting the adoption of state-of-art technologies and practices in developing countries, that avoid the use of ozone depleting substances and promote the deployment of lower global warming potential (Lower-GWP) refrigerants. The two global organizations also worked to offer tools and knowledge to help in eliminating emissions of refrigerants while servicing refrigeration and air conditioning applications. Both parties renewed their commitment of the continuing strategic partnership through a new umbrella MOU signed in 2019, replacing the original 2007 agreement. This is the fifth joint workplan.
The theme of the workplan recognizes the important role that refrigeration and air conditioning play in developing countries both in terms of societal benefits, ranging from protecting the food supply and vaccine storage to cooling for increased comfort and productivity, as well as environmental goals, including compliance with international commitments. The workplan emphasizes the deployment of all ASHRAE-UNEP developed tools and programs, to make them reachable and accessible to different stakeholders in developing countries.
“One of the most important elements of ASHRAE’s work plan with UNEP is our collective ability to contribute meaningful resources to the critically important challenge of shifting to the use of refrigerants with lower global warming potential,” said Gulledge “We are delighted to continue our work with UNEP as we share knowledge and expertise to prioritizing the adoption of energy efficient solutions that lessen the impact of ozone depletion.”
“By offering a suite of state-of-art products and services, UNEP OzonAction and ASHRAE are helping to connect industry and policy-makers in developing countries to enhance environmental performance in the critical refrigeration and air conditioning sector. This partnership helps those countries meet their international commitments and ultimately to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” said Curlin. “The successful ASHRAE-UNEP cooperation model has helped us, UNEP OzonAction, to build similar meaningful partnerships with other organizations and associations.”
All ASHRAE-UNEP products and services included in the joint workplans are offered free of charge and are accessible to National Ozone Units (NOUs) and certain refrigeration and air conditioning sector stakeholders in developing countries through ASHRAE and UNEP OzonAction.
Outcomes: Completion of the UNEP ASHRAE Work Plan 2021-2023
Review the 2021-2023 work plan, “Refrigerant Management for Developing Economies”. This project was completed due to the the successful and collaborative efforts of numerous industry partners.
2021-2023 work plan
2017-2018 Work Plan
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2019-2020 Work Plan
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