Congratulations to the First Batch of Certified Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Techicians

The wait is over! The first batch of Certified Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Techicians have collected their cards. Consumers can now request the card from technicians when engaging their services. A warm congratulations to all the successful candidates for being leaders in making this Certification a reality.....

Recognition Ceremony for English Speaking Caribbean Recipients of the United Nations Environment Ozone Award

The English Speaking Caribbean Region’s performance in the implementation of the Montreal Protocol has attracted international recognition. Caribbean countries have completely phased out the consumption of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), one of the most harmful of ozone depleting substances. Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada completely phased out the use of CFCs years in advance of the mandated deadline. Employing a public-private stakeholder approach the Caribbean Region continues to strive to phase out harmful substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol with options that are more energy efficient, climate and ozone friendly.

English Speaking Caribbean Awardees honoured during a recognition ceremony hosted by the United Nations Development Programme included: 

Dr. Marissa Gowrie- Deputy Environmental Manager/National Ozone Officer Trinidad and Tobago.

Mr. Leslie Smith -National Ozone Officer Grenada - Energy Division of the Ministry of Finance

Ms. Artie Dubrie - Sustainable Development Officer - United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC)

 L-R - Mr. Leslie Smith, Ms. Artie Dubrie and Dr. Marissa Gowrie

Photo credit : UN ECLAC  Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean 

Photo credit : UN ECLAC  Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean 

Photo credit : UN ECLAC  Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean 

Photo credit : UN ECLAC  Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean 

Dr. Marissa Gowrie

Dr. Marissa Gowrie holds the portfolio of Deputy Environmental Manager/National Ozone Officer in the Environmental Policy and Planning Division - Ministry of Planning and Development, Trinidad and Tobago. Over the last 14 years she has overseen the successful implementation of Trinidad and Tobago's national obligations under the Montreal Protocol, as well as has engaged in international negotiations on behalf of Trinidad and Tobago relating to the Montreal Protocol. In 2011, Dr. Gowrie, representing Trinidad and Tobago was elected to one of five posts of Vice Presidency to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer with a term of office from 2011-2014. She has also co-chaired several Contact Groups at various Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol and Open Ended Working Groups on negotiation issues relating to the implementation of the Montreal Protocol. She has also presented at side events at International and Regional Meetings on the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol in Trinidad and Tobago.

Mr. Leslie Smith

Mr. Leslie Smith has held the portfolio of National Ozone Officer of Grenada for the past 14 years attached to the National Ozone Unit of Grenada in the Energy Division of the Ministry of Finance. Mr. Smith has overseen the successful implementation of Grenada’s national obligations under the Montreal Protocol and is a very active participant in the Montreal Protocol negotiations at the global level. He was one of the Co-Chairs that presided over the successful negotiations that lead to adoption of the historic Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, in 2016. He has also served on many Montreal Protocol bodies and in 2015 was elected as the Vice Chair of the Executive Committee of the Multi-lateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol.

Ms. Artie Dubrie

Ms. Artie Dubrie who has been employed in the United Nations System for over 14 years has played a vital role in supporting developing countries in meeting and sustaining Montreal Protocol obligations. Ms. Dubrie has held the portfolios of Regional Network Coordinator for Pacific Island Countries and Transboundary Capacity Building, as well as Policy and Enforcement Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean, both with the United Nations Environment Programme. She has also served as a former National Ozone Officer of Trinidad and Tobago. She is currently the Sustainable Development Officer at the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. 

Technical Exchange Visit between the University of the West Indies and the National Ozone Unit of Grenada

An exchange visit was held between the National Ozone Unit of Grenada and the University of the West Indies to discuss some research and development projects relating to natural refrigerant. Mr. Leslie Smith National Ozone Officer of Grenada provided invaluable insight into the experience of Grenada in utilizing natural refrigerant over the last decade as well as some previously done international research in this area.

Tobago Training at the National Energy Skills Center

The National Ozone Unit continued its training of technicians in hydrocarbon refrigerant. Technicians in Tobago were exposed to the basics of hydrocarbon refrigerant as well as participated in a practical session  doing a retrofit of a compressor on an R 290 Unit. The following types of hydrocarbons are commonly used as refrigerants:

R290 Propane

R600a Isobutane

R1270 Propylene

A number of other hydrocarbons, such as blends containing ethane, propane or butane, are also used as refrigerants.

South South Information Exchange between the National Ozone Unit Trinidad and Tobago and Stakeholders from the RAC Sector in Guyana

The National Ozone Unit (NOU) Trinidad and Tobago hosted a delegation from Guyana who visited our shores to be better apprised of our Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Sector. The delegation was here from the 6^th to the 8^th Dec. The NOU scheduled meeting and sits visits for the three days for the delegation to meet with National Training Agency, the University of the West Indies, Refrigeration expert, Professor Kochhar, representatives from the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Association (ARIA) to discuss the  work of Association and the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards to discuss the national standards related to the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Sector as well as site visits to University of Trinidad and Tobago, School of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Metal Industries Company Ltd. and National Energy Skills Center. 

The delegation comprised:

1.            Elena Stanislavovna Trim - Dean, Faculty of Technology, University of Guyana

2.            Devendra Singh - RAC Trainer, Guyana Sugar Corporation

3.            Joshua Cecil Burnett - RAC Trainer

4.            Mark Orwin Adams - Deputy Principal / RAC Trainer, Government Technical                           Institute

5.            Floyd Fitzgerald Scott - Training Manager, Demerara Distillers Limited

6.            Krishn Deo Sharma - Guyana Council for TVET

7.            Patrick Chinedu Onwuzirike - Assistant Chief Education Officer - Technical

Trinidad and Tobago National Ozone Officer, Dr. Marissa Gowrie awarded a prestigious United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Policy and Implementation Leadership Award

National Ozone Officer for Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Marissa Gowrie has been awarded a prestigious United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Policy and Implementation Leadership Award in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol.

Gowrie, Deputy Environmental Manager/National Ozone Officer at the Environmental Policy and Planning Division in the Planning and Development Ministry, was one of 15 recipients out of a total of 197 parties in the world to receive this ozone award. 

This Award recognizes extraordinary contributions from governments, party delegates, groups or individuals who work tirelessly in the development and implementation of the Montreal Protocol.  Dr. Gowrie for over ten years, been dedicated to the phasing out of ozone-depleting substances in this country and represented Trinidad and Tobago at ozone negotiations on the International Fora.

The Ozone Awards recognize the achievements of individuals, groups, and organizations that have demonstrated extraordinary commitment and contribution to the progress and achievements of the Montreal Protocol in the past 10 years. These individuals, groups and organizations also exemplify the power of cooperation on large and small scales to accomplish goals and produce tangible change.

The Vienna Convention, adopted in 1985, established a framework for measures to protect human health and the environment against adverse effects resulting from changes to the ozone layer.

In 1987, the protocol established a mechanism and deadlines for the controlled phasing-out of the global production and use of ozone-depleting substances such as the refrigerant HCFCs, the fumigant methyl bromide and the fire suppressant halon.

Government acceded to the Vienna Convention and its protocol in August 1989, the first to do so in the Caribbean region. In this regard, TT was obligated to implement all phase-out obligations under the protocol, for which Gowrie, through her work, has been recognized as a world leader in this regard.

It is also noteworthy to mention that Ms. Artie Dubrie who has been employed in the United Nations System for over fourteen years, and who served as a past National Ozone Officer of Trinidad and Tobago, was also recognized in this category for her role in supporting developing countries in meeting and sustaining Montreal Protocol obligations.

Dr. Marissa Gowrie- National Ozone Officer of Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago becomes the 21st Party to the Kigali Amendment!!

The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol will enter into force on 1 January 2019 after the threshold for the agreement to enter into force was met on 17 November 2017, when it was ratified by 20 parties.

Montreal Protocol parties continue to ratify the Amendment, which has so far been ratified by 21 parties. The parties, listed alphabetically, are: Australia, Canada, Chile, Comoros, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Finland, Germany, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Luxembourg, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Norway, Palau, Rwanda, Slovakia, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Trinidad and Tobago became the 21st Party to ratify the Amendment on Friday November 17, 2017. The first country in the Caribbean Region and the second in the wider Latin America and Caribbean Region.

The Amendment was adopted by the 28th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on 15 October 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda. Under the Amendment, all countries will gradually phase down HFCs by more than 80 per cent over the next 30 years and replace them with more planet-friendly alternatives.

Developed countries will start reducing HFCs as early as 2019, while developing countries will start later. Phasing down HFCs under the Protocol is expected to avoid up to 0.5°C of global warming by the end of the century, while continuing to protect the ozone layer.

All prior amendments and adjustments of the Montreal Protocol, which marks its 30th anniversary in 2017, have universal support.

OZONEWS, VOL XVII, 15 NOVEMBER 2017 ISSUE

In This Issue: 

1. Nations to Agree on Funding for Continued Protection of the Ozone Layer and Reduction of Climate-warming Gases
2. 11th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (COP 11) and 29th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MOP 29), 20-24 November 2017,  Headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Montreal, Canada
3. Warm Air Helped Make 2017 Ozone Hole Smallest Since 1988
4. SolarChill Refrigeration: An Offshoot of the Montreal Protocol
5. Bhutan - Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen Commemorates the 30th Anniversary of the Montreal Protocol
6. The Maldives’ second-largest economic sector, the fisheries industry, is now transitioning away from legacy HCFC systems to low-GWP alternatives, but challenges remain
7. Training organisations in Australia and New Zealand are seeing increased demand for natural refrigerant system training in the Asia-Pacific
8. Capa de ozono se tardará 10 años en recuperar: Mario Molina
9. México avanza en eliminar sustancias que dañan capa de ozono
10. Canada Ratifies Global Agreement to Reduce Powerful Greenhouse Gases and Heads to International Climate Change Conference to Urge Climate Action
11. Carbon credits coordinated by EOS Climate incentivize HFC reclamation and R22/CFC destruction as well as the installation of natural refrigerant-based systems
12. MACS reminds the aftermarket to be aware of changes to Section 609 requirements in 2018
13. Low GWP Fire Suppression Alternatives Spark Opportunity for Early Action on HFCs
14. Arctic Climate Research Lab Funding Renewed for Two More Years
15. Fin de vie des fluides : la France va faire école, Interview de Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, LaRPF, 20 octobre 2017, Par : Elise Kuntzelmann

http://www.unep.fr/ozonaction/information/mmcfiles/7857-e-OzoNewsVolXVII-30-MAR-2017.pdf

Training of Staff of the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards

The National Ozone Unit, Ministry of Planning and Development, in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Association (ARIA), recently completed  a series of training sessions (October 3rd & 5th) with staff of the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) with regard to border control of ozone depleting substances (ODS) such as refrigerant R 22, and equipment using ODS (such as air conditioning units and refrigerators).  This was done with the aim of securing the borders against illegal trade of ODS, implementing the Compulsory Labeling Standard for Refrigerant Cylinders, as well as monitoring all imports and exports so as to meet national obligations under the Montreal Protocol. The training included both theoretical and practical sessions.

Raising Awareness on World Ozone Day 2017

The National Ozone Unit uses the opportunity of the International Coastal Clean up 2017 to spread awareness on ozone depletion. This was done on September 16......World Ozone Day 2017

World Ozone Day 2017

Greeting from the Honourable Minister of Planning and Development - World Ozone Day 2017