For more than two decades, UNDP Lebanon, as the implementing agency for the National Ozone Unit (NOU), commonly referred to as the Ozone Projects, has worked in partnership with the Ministry of Environment to support Lebanon’s implementation of the Vienna Convention, the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment — three landmark international agreements that protect the ozone layer while advancing climate action and sustainable development.

Since the establishment of the National Ozone Unit in 1998, Lebanon has made significant progress in phasing out ozone-depleting substances, strengthening environmental governance and supporting the transition of the refrigeration, air-conditioning and manufacturing sectors towards more sustainable technologies. With funding from the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol and technical and implementation assistance from UNDP, Lebanon has successfully phased out chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons and methyl bromide, eliminated the consumption of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) in manufacturing, and continues to advance towards the complete phase-out of HCFCs by 2030 and the phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Kigali Amendment.

UNDP’s support has contributed to progress across policy, industry, and capacity development. Lebanon has strengthened national licensing and quota systems for controlled substances, introduced targeted regulatory measures and sectoral bans, and enhanced customs enforcement and monitoring systems to maintain compliance with its international obligations. More than 100 industrial facilities have transitioned to ozone-friendly technologies, while thousands of refrigeration and air-conditioning technicians and importers, customs officers, vocational instructors and private-sector professionals have benefited from training, certification and awareness initiatives. Specialized vocational schools and training centres have also been established and upgraded, strengthening national technical capacity and laying the foundation for skilled green jobs.

Working with government institutions, industry, academic institutions, vocational training centres, customs authorities and international partners, UNDP and the National Ozone Unit continue to advance Lebanon’s transition towards a modern, energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling sector, protecting the ozone layer, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to a more sustainable future.