Euro associations deepen links with UNEP

ITALY: European refrigeration and air conditioning associations EPEE and AREA have both signed memorandums of understanding with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN’s environmental arm.

The agreements were signed during the recent 31st Meeting of the Parties (MOP) to the Montreal Protocol in Rome. 

EPEE, the European Partnership for Energy and the Environment, committed to work together with UNEP to raise awareness on sustainable cooling.

Andrea Voigt, EPEE director general, described the signing of the MOU as “a formal recognition of our excellent cooperation over the past years”. Joint projects have include raising awareness and providing help to assist developing countries in reaching the objectives of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol while improving energy efficiency. 

The European contractors’ group AREA has been a close partner of UNEP for many years, working together on various topics, in particular installer competence. The signature of the MoU illustrates the commitment that both organisations are taking.

The cooperation with UNEP has materialised in various fora and events, such as the ECA Network (Regional Ozone Network for Europe & Central Asia). More recently, AREA has worked on a universal training kit, which the two organisations launched during MOP31. The kit covers all aspects of sound and safe management of refrigerants including dealing with conventional and flammable refrigerants.