On
this International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, Trinidad and
Tobago joins the global community in celebrating the power of collective action
to protect life on Earth. This year’s theme, “Global action for a cooler
planet”, also marks ten years since the adoption of the Kigali Amendment to the
Montreal Protocol, connecting ozone protection with the urgent need to address
climate change.
For
Trinidad and Tobago, sustainable cooling is essential to our development.
Refrigeration preserves the food produced by our farmers and fishers,
safeguards medicines and vaccines, and supports businesses across both islands.
Air conditioning contributes to comfortable homes, productive workplaces and
reliable healthcare services. Our responsibility is to meet these needs while
reducing energy consumption and the environmental impacts of the refrigerants
we use.
Our
HCFC Phase-out Management Plan has supported reductions in the consumption of
ozone-depleting refrigerants, building on the 35 per cent reduction achieved by
2020. Stage II advances this transition towards near-complete phase-out by 2030
with more than 80% phased out from the national baseline achieved. This work
combines import controls, technician training, improved servicing practices and
support for alternative technologies.
Alongside
this effort, our Kigali Implementation Plan supports the phase-down of
hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs. These substances do not deplete the ozone layer,
but many are powerful greenhouse gases. Following the commencement of the HFC
consumption freeze in 2024, national implementation is focused on the first
reduction target of 10 per cent below the established baseline by 2029. Our
licensing and quota system, supported by coordinated border controls, provides
an essential foundation for this transition.
A
major policy achievement was the completion of the National Cooling Strategy
which implements a coordinated approach that connects cooling demand, energy
efficiency, refrigerant selection and national development priorities. Work on
minimum energy performance standards, energy labelling and a national product
registry will further support informed purchasing and the introduction of more
efficient equipment.
The
national standard TTS 663:2023, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Sector - General Requirements, also provides an important technical foundation. It
addresses installation, maintenance, refrigerant recovery, safety, training and
certification, including requirements relevant to natural and flammable
refrigerants.
Investment
in people remains central to this progress. Through partnerships with training
institutions and the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Association,
technicians across Trinidad and Tobago have received training in good
refrigeration practices, energy efficiency and the safe handling of alternative
refrigerants. Recent training in Tobago has helped extend access to these
skills, while professional certification and curriculum development continue to
strengthen the sector.
Trinidad
and Tobago is also advancing the management of refrigerants throughout their
useful life. The national ODS and HFC Banks Survey and associated action
planning are helping identify substances contained in equipment and the
opportunities for recovery, recycling, reclamation and environmentally sound
disposal. Digital monitoring pilots are exploring how better information can
improve cooling performance and maintenance.
On
World Ozone Day 2026, let us renew our commitment to cooling that protects our
health, strengthens our economy and safeguards our environment. Through
sustained national effort and international cooperation, Trinidad and Tobago
can help turn global action into a cooler, more secure future for generations
to come.
