Overview

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is participating in the 48th Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG48) of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in Bangkok, Thailand. Convened under the Montreal Protocol, the meeting provides a forum for Parties and observers to discuss technical and policy issues that advance implementation of the Protocol and the Kigali Amendment.

As one of the implementing agencies of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol, UNDP supports partner countries in meeting their commitments under the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment through policy and institutional support, technical assistance, and investment projects that promote ozone-friendly, climate-friendly and energy-efficient technologies.

At OEWG48, UNDP will share lessons from country implementation and practical experiences that demonstrate how innovation, technology and international cooperation can accelerate the transition to sustainable cooling. Through two side events, UNDP and its partners will showcase approaches ranging from digital monitoring and performance data to energy-efficient technologies and policy solutions that can help countries strengthen implementation of the Kigali Amendment while improving cooling system performance and supporting climate action.

Side Events

During OEWG48, UNDP is co-organizing two side events that showcase practical experiences, innovative technologies and partnerships supporting the implementation of the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment.

From Demonstration to Evidence: Leveraging Data to Advance Energy Efficiency in Cooling in High Ambient Temperature (HAT) Countries

Monday, 13 July 2026   |   18:00–20:00   |   The Theatre, Foyer, UN ESCAP, Bangkok, Thailand

Co-organized by UNDP and the CoolUp Programme, this side event highlights how data generated from demonstration projects, performance analysis and digital monitoring can be transformed into practical evidence to accelerate the transition to energy-efficient, climate-friendly cooling solutions. With a focus on natural refrigerant applications, the session showcases real-world experiences from the CoolUp Programme in high ambient temperature (HAT) countries, including CO₂ cold rooms and R290 air handling units, and discusses how performance data supports technology validation, system optimization and informed decision-making.

The event explores the role of energy efficiency, digitalization and IoT-based monitoring in improving cooling system performance, enabling early issue detection, benchmarking and sustained efficiency gains, while supporting countries' implementation of the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment.

AGENDA

18:00–18:20 – Welcome coffee 

18:20–18:25 – Opening remarks

• Dr. Jihad Alsawair, Advisor to the Minister on Technical and International Affairs, Ministry of Environment of Jordan
• Mr. Elie Mansour, Head of NOU Lebanon

18:25–18:50 – CoolUp Programme: Implementation Insights and Case Studies

• Demonstration projects using natural refrigerants in high ambient temperature (HAT) countries – Mustafa Abunofal (Guidehouse Germany) and Isroiljon Khasanov (UNDP)
• Performance analysis of natural refrigerants in HAT: CO₂ refrigeration system for a cold room and R290 air-conditioning system for a public building – Christian Friebe, ILK Dresden (ILK Dresden)
• Video presentation from demonstration projects in Jordan

18:50–19:05 – From Sensors to National Insights: A Digital Platform for Retail Refrigeration Efficiency

• Lara Haidar, National Ozone Unit, Lebanon

19:05–19:20 – From Data to Decisions: Digital Cooling Solutions for Energy-Efficient Refrigeration Systems

• Mikael Jakobsson, International Expert

19:20–19:40 – Questions and answers

19:40–19:45 – Closing remarks

• Eslam Mahdy, CoolUp Programme Manager, Guidehouse Germany
• Isroiljon Khasanov, CoolUp Programme Coordinator, UNDP

Moderator: Mustafa Abunofal, Guidehouse Germany

Building on a Decade of Kigali: China's Experience – Technology Innovation and Energy Efficiency Toward Synergistic Action

Tuesday, 14 July 2026  |  13:00–14:30  |  CR-4, Level 1, United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC), Bangkok, Thailand

Co-organized by the Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center (FECO) of China, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and UNDP, this side event marks the 10th anniversary of the Kigali Amendment by highlighting China's experience in implementing the Montreal Protocol and advancing the phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). As one of the world's largest producers and consumers of ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) and HFCs, China plays an important role in this transition through strengthened policy and regulatory frameworks, institutional capacity, and sectoral transformation.

Building on a decade of progress, the session showcases cutting-edge technologies and best practices in energy efficiency while exploring how international cooperation under the Multilateral Fund—including long-standing partnerships with UNDP and UNIDO—supports technology demonstration, capacity building and knowledge exchange. It also examines how enhancing energy efficiency alongside refrigerant transition, fostering technological innovation, and strengthening international cooperation can maximize climate benefits and support enhanced mitigation efforts towards 2035, with lessons that are relevant to other developing countries.

AGENDA

13:00–13:20 – Opening Remarks and Awards Ceremony

• Opening video message

  - Beate Trankmann, Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, UNDP

• Opening addresses

  - Wenfu Dong, Director, Department of Atmospheric Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), China

  - Liazzat Rabbiosi, Chief, Montreal Protocol Unit, UNIDO

• Award ceremony

  - Presenter: Gerd Trogemann, Manager, Regional Programme and Global Policy Network, UNDP

  - Recipient: China National Ozone Unit

13:20–13:40 – Session 1: Policy and Technical Overview

Moderator: Anderson Alves, UNDP

This session reflects on China's implementation of the Montreal Protocol, from the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) to the phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Kigali Amendment. It highlights key policy frameworks, institutional arrangements and sectoral approaches, while discussing lessons learned, emerging challenges and the role of international cooperation.

• Building on a Decade of Kigali: China's Progress and Challenges

  - Jianxin Hu, Professor, Peking University

• Multilateral Partnership Highlights: UNDP and UNIDO

  - Anderson Alves, Senior Technical Advisor and Regional Coordinator for Cooling, Circularity and Pollution Prevention, UNDP

  - Yunrui Zhou, Industrial Development Officer, Division of Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol, UNIDO

13:40–14:20 – Session 2: Sectoral Applications and Innovation

Moderator: Anderson Alves, UNDP

This session showcases innovative cooling technologies that support ODS phase-out and HFC phasedown while highlighting the importance of integrating energy efficiency with refrigerant transition to maximize climate benefits. It also presents China's progress in adopting low-global warming potential (GWP) alternatives.

• Green Refrigerants and Energy Efficiency Improvement in China's ICR Sector

  - Xiaohong Han, Professor, Zhejiang University

• Alternative Refrigerants for Automotive Thermal Management Systems and Organic Rankine Cycle Waste Heat Recovery Systems in China

  - Jiangping Chen, Director, Center for Safety and Environmental Protection, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Moderator: Yunrui Zhou, UNIDO

• Innovation and Industrialization of Midea R290 Room Air Conditioners for the Implementation of the Kigali Amendment

  - Yaxin Yang, Development Director, Thailand R&D Center, Residential Air Conditioning Division, Midea Group

• Research Progress on Dynamic Energy Efficiency of Room Air Conditioners in China

  - Yuzhou Yang, Senior Engineer, China Household Electric Appliance Research Institute (CHEARI)

14:20–14:30 – Session 3: Discussion

Moderator: Yunrui Zhou, UNIDO

This session discusses opportunities for the adoption of alternative technologies, improvements in energy efficiency, lifecycle refrigerant management, strengthened policy and financing frameworks, and continued international cooperation.