IOR participated in the recent OzonAction stakeholders workshop and presented its REAL Alternatives 4 LIFE learning booklets and programmes focusing on safety and containment of alternative refrigerants.

PARIS, FRANCE, 17 July 2018 — The Second International Stakeholders Workshop on the Refrigeration Servicing Sector (RSS), was held in Paris, France from 17 to18 July 2018. The workshop, organised by UN Environment’s OzonAction, brought together international refrigeration and air-conditioning associations and experts, delegates from the Multilateral Fund, Bilateral and Implementing Agencies, including officials from UN Environment’s OzonAction regional offices.  It included a short presentation on the IOR-led REAL Alternatives (www.realalternatives.eu) learning programme by Project Manager Raluca Sisiu and IOR President Steve Gill was also there to represent the IOR.

With the Kigali Amendment entering into force in a few months, the interlinkage of commitments will affect business and projects being offered to the servicing sector in all Article 5 countries. Therefore, with combined expertise and remits, participants at this workshop, are joining forces and efforts to explore options towards Streamlining Support and Services to the refrigeration servicing sector, with the aim of conveying unified messages that can lead to changing mindsets.

The workshop helped to identify opportunities for collaboration amongst international stakeholders and followed five key tracks

-    Considerations and emerging issues of the servicing sector;
-    Training programmes and resources;
-    Certification and qualification;
-    Enhance refrigerant management practices; and
-    Empowering local associations in Article 5 countries.

This workshop was a follow up to the 2016 first International Stakeholder workshop on Refrigeration Servicing Sector, which focused on the training needs for the sector and discussed roadmap for addressing gaps and mobilizing potential capacities amongst all stakeholders to upscale training tools and services.  

Read more about the programme event at

 http://web.unep.org/ozonaction/news/changing-mindset-refrigeration-servicing-sector