The Ministry of Environment and Water met with representatives from UNEP West Asia Regional Office and a number of companies, experts and technicians from the 16-17 of November at the Ministry’s headquarters to explore the management of unwanted substances that deplete the ozone layer.
According to Othaibah Al Qayedi Director of Chemicals Department at the Ministry of Environment and Water, the UAE has developed a national timeframe for phasing out HCFCs substances that deplete the ozone layer reaching the deadline for banning the substances in 2040. The ministry is intensifying the efforts to achieve the objectives of Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol , and confirming that the efforts of the ministry is following the directions the UAE Vision 2021 and reaffirms the UAE’s commitment as a global participant in developing and applying innovative solutions to protect the environment and ensure its sustainability.
Al Qayedi added that organizing this meeting will reinforce the national efforts in managing the unwanted substances that deplete the ozone layer in addition to exploring best ways and practices that can be implemented to eliminate these substances using ways and mechanisms that are environmentally friendly. She also noted that the exchange of knowledge and expertise will support the efforts in achieving environmental sustainability in the country.
It’s worth noting that ministry hosted the regional meeting of Montreal Protocol on the 26-27 October for the network’s representatives of the national ozone unites in the West Asia region, in the presence of international and regional organizations research centers and universities to discuss the status and development of policies related to the substances that deplete the ozone layer and achieve total elimination of methyl bromide within the region’s countries . In addition to organizing the 4th regional symposium on ‘Alternative Refrigerants for High-Ambient , in partnership with the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE Falcon Chapter), the, Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO, the symposium saw the participation of over 200 official and expert from governmental sectors ,international organizations, and regional representatives of the national ozone unites, in addition to the international and regional manufacturers of cooling and air conditioning unites to assess the future risks of cooling and air conditioning gases, in addition to viewing internationally approved cooling and air conditioning manufacturing practices in addition to the methods of developing future cooling regulations to reduce ozone layer depletion.