World Refrigeration Day Youth Recognition

Trinidad and Tobago commemorated World Refrigeration Day 2025,  under the theme “Cool Skills” with a fitting tribute to the people and expertise that power this vital sector. Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning (RAC) systems are the silent engines of modern society. From food safety and vaccine storage to comfort, data integrity, and industrial processes, cooling is everywhere often operating unnoticed, but always essential. And behind every unit installed, serviced, or optimized, there is a trained technician, an engineer, a policymaker, and a trainer. 

The top Female and Male RAC students from El Dorado East Secondary and Mucurapo Secondary were presented with tokens and tools recognizing their achievements.

El Dorado East Secondary School 

Female 

Naomi Applewhite-Meade 

Male

Joshua Ramsaroop 

East Mucurapo Secondary School 

Female 

Rinelle Richards

Male

Jayvyn Manswell

Stakeholder Forum on Montreal Protocol

The National Ozone Unit of the Environmental Policy and Planning Division held a Stakeholder Forum focused on national measures and controls governing the importation of refrigerants and other controlled substances under the Montreal Protocol.

The forum was relevant to stakeholders in the refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) sector, fire suppression and petroleum industry, medical field, foam manufacturing (building and construction), and fumigation services. It provided critical updates on national policies, licensing systems, and compliance procedures for controlled substances under the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment.

 

The event will also highlight key standards, policy measures, and training resources to support sector-specific compliance and capacity building.

Hydrocarbon Training

 The NOU conducts training for MIC year 1 students in Tobago on Hydrocarbon as a refrigerant. June 23 2025. Training includes practical components, calculating refrigerant charge, and safe practice when vacuuming and charging R290 AC systems.

Caribbean Ozone Officers Regional Meeting

Trinidad and Tobago participated in the 2025 Caribbean Thematic Network Meeting and Sustainable Cooling Exhibition held from 16–18 June 2025 in St. George’s, Grenada. This regional forum, convened by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction and hosted by the Government of Grenada, brought together Ozone Officers, regional experts, and key stakeholders to discuss implementation strategies under the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment. Trinidad and Tobago’s presence was both timely and significant, as the country is advancing its national Hydrochlorofluorocarbon Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) and implementing the Kigali Implementation Plan (KIP) to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The meeting allowed the country to engage directly with Implementing Agencies, policy and technical experts, and potential donors benefiting from shared regional experiences, funding updates, and technical support that directly align with its national climate and ozone commitments.