Project Overview

The HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) Stage II supported Lebanon’s compliance with the accelerated HCFC phase-out schedule under the Montreal Protocol. Building on the successful completion of Stage I, the project focused on eliminating HCFC consumption in manufacturing sectors (foam and air-conditioning) and significantly reduced consumption in the refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) servicing sector. The project combined policy and regulatory enforcement, industrial conversion to non-ODS technologies, capacity building for technicians and customs officers, and public awareness, while ensured effective monitoring, reporting, and compliance with international obligations. Despite multiple national crises, including the Beirut Port blast, COVID-19, economic collapse, and armed conflict, Lebanon remained compliant with its Montreal Protocol targets.

Project Objective

• Achieve Lebanon’s international commitment to freeze and reduce 75% of HCFC consumption according to the Montreal Protocol schedule.
• Fully eliminate HCFC use in manufacturing sectors (foam and air-conditioning) and reduce HCFC consumption in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) servicing sector through training, certification, and adoption of good servicing practices.
• Phase out an additional 756.20 mt (57.11 ODP tonnes) of HCFCs by 2025.
• Strengthen the technical skills of the RAC servicing sectors, customs, and vocational schools to reduce leakage, improve recovery/recycling, enhance enforcement, and create green jobs.
• Implement carefully designed policies and targeted regulations to control the growth of HCFC consumption in unaddressed sectors.
   

Achievements & Key Figures

Compliance & Phase-Out Results

• Achieved a 75% reduction from the HCFC baseline consumption by 2025 (approximately 55.11 ODP tonnes phased out). 
• Achieved and sustained zero HCFC consumption in the manufacturing sectors by the end of 2021. 
• Maintained national HCFC consumption consistently below the maximum allowable consumption under the Montreal Protocol throughout Stage II of the HPMP (2016-2025). 
• Ensured full compliance with the 2025 Montreal Protocol control measures.

Policy & Regulatory Strengthening

• Strengthened the national licensing and quota system for ozone-depleting substances through the implementation of Decree No. 3277/2016. 
• Issued Ministerial Decisions banning the use of HCFC-141b in flushing and cleaning (2018) and in the foam manufacturing sector (2021).
• Issued Ministerial Decision 51/1 on banning the import and use of HCFC-22 in manufacturing industries operating in Lebanon.
• Updated the national database of HCFC users in the manufacturing and servicing sectors to support monitoring and compliance.
  Enhanced coordination with Customs authorities to strengthen import controls and help prevent illegal trade in controlled substances.Industry Conversion & Technical Transformation.
• Converted all six foam manufacturing enterprises to low-GWP technologies by the end of 2020.
• Completed the conversion of five residential air-conditioning manufacturing enterprises between 2017 and 2020, achieving zero HCFC consumption in the sector from 2021 onward.
• Completed the phase-out of HCFCs in the air-conditioning and foam manufacturing sectors.
• Achieved permanent and irreversible reductions in HCFC demand through sustainable technology conversion and adoption of alternative refrigerants.Capacity Building & Institutional Support.
• Delivered capacity-building workshops for importers on the HCFC licensing and quota system, regulatory requirements, and HCFC phase-out obligations. 
• Strengthened the capacity of importers to comply with national HCFC import control measures. 
  Strengthened cooperation with Customs authorities to strengthen border monitoring, enforce licensing requirements, and support compliance with HCFC import controls.Vocational Training & Workforce Development.
• Rehabilitated and operationalized the RAC Training Centre at Hermel Vocational School under the Directorate General of Vocational and Technical Education (DGVTE/MEHE). 
• Equipped vocational training centres with modern refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) training equipment in: 
  •    Dekwaneh (Mount Lebanon) 
  •    Bakhoun (North Lebanon) 
  •    Sarafand (South Lebanon) 
• Strengthened national technical and institutional capacity to support the safe adoption, installation, servicing, and maintenance of low-GWP cooling technologies.

Strategic Planning & International Engagement

• Prepared and secured approval for a project preparation request to develop a national inventory of banks of controlled substances and associated waste management strategies. 
• Strengthened Lebanon's strategic engagement in Montreal Protocol processes through active participation in Meetings of the Parties and Executive Committee discussions. 
• Supported the development and promotion of Lebanon's national priorities in international negotiations, including preparations for the 2027–2029 replenishment of the Multilateral Fund.
   

Raising Awareness

Production of 40,000 copies of the “Slip Slap Slop” activity book in Arabic and English promoting ozone layer awareness and sun safety, reaching 405 Lebanese public schools nationwide, 36 NGOs, as well as public libraries and municipalities.
 

GESI Component (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion)

The project emphasizes inclusive stakeholder engagement, ensuring that the draft national strategy and subsequent implementation involve a broad range of technical experts and industrial representatives. While primarily a technical and industrial reconversion project, it adheres to UNDP's accountability mechanisms to ensure that concerns from all community sectors are addressed during the transition. 

The project integrates gender equality and social inclusion principles by promoting the equitable participation of women and men in stakeholder consultations, technical trainings, and capacity-building activities. It encourages the meaningful engagement of government institutions, industry representatives, technicians, and other stakeholders throughout project implementation. In line with UNDP's accountability framework, the project seeks to identify and address gender-related barriers where relevant, promoting equitable access to technical knowledge, cleaner production technologies, and decision-making processes during the HCFC phase-out transition.