Refrigerants are used in refrigerators and air conditioners, vehicles, commercial display cases, cold storage facilities, restaurants, the food industry, and medical equipment. Under normal conditions, they remain within a closed system, but they can enter the atmosphere through leaks, during repairs, or when equipment is improperly disposed of.

On 16 September, the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, this story is particularly relevant: humanity has managed to reverse the course of a global environmental problem.

How the world protected the ozone layer

In the second half of the 20th century, chlorofluorocarbons and other ozone-depleting substances were widely used in refrigeration equipment, aerosols, insulation materials and industry.

Ozone in the stratosphere protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation. After scientists established the link between industrial chemicals and ozone depletion, countries adopted the Montreal Protocol.

Today, almost 99 per cent of controlled ozone-depleting substances worldwide have been phased out, and the ozone layer is gradually recovering.

Kyrgyzstan joined the Montreal Protocol in 2000. Over the following two decades, the country strengthened its legislation, enhanced import controls, upgraded enterprises and trained specialists. In 2020, Kyrgyzstan completed the phase-out of the main groups of ozone-depleting substances.

Much of this work was carried out in partnership with UNDP.

“We consider this one of the most significant results of our more than 20 years of work. Kyrgyzstan was among the first countries in the region to fully phase out the consumption of ozone-depleting substances,” says Mars Amanaliev, expert/ex -Director of the Ozone Centre of Kyrgyzstan.

According to the Ozone Centre, over more than 25 years, 34 joint projects with a total value of more than US$5.5 million have been implemented, ranging from improving legislation and training specialists to introducing new technologies.

“Over the years of partnership, Kyrgyzstan has significantly strengthened its national capacity to protect the ozone layer. Specialists in the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector have been trained, refrigerant management practices have been improved, and conditions have been created for the transition to technologies that are safer for the ozone layer. Today, this experience is helping the country move further towards cooling solutions that take into account ozone protection, climate impact and energy efficiency at the same time,” says Alexandra Solovieva, UNDP Resident Representative in Kyrgyzstan.

But solving one problem created a new one

After substances that damaged the ozone layer were phased out, the refrigeration industry needed alternatives. One solution was hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs.

They do not deplete the ozone layer. However, many HFCs are potent greenhouse gases whose impact on the climate can be hundreds or even thousands of times greater than that of carbon dioxide.

An environmental paradox emerged: substances that helped protect the ozone layer became part of the climate change problem.

This led to the adoption of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol in 2016, which provides for the gradual reduction of HFC consumption. Kyrgyzstan ratified the amendment in 2020.

The next important stage for the country will begin with a 10 per cent reduction in HFC consumption from 2029, followed by a phased reduction of up to 80 per cent by 2045.

This is no longer only about international commitments. It is also about which refrigerators, air conditioners, heat pumps and industrial systems will be used in Kyrgyzstan over the coming decades.

New technologies require new specialists

Alternatives to HFCs include natural refrigerants such as propane, isobutane, carbon dioxide and ammonia. They have a much lower impact on the climate, but require a different level of technical expertise and compliance with safety standards.

“We are once again coming back to the issue of skills. Working with natural refrigerants requires new knowledge and new competencies,” explains Mars Amanaliev.

The next stage of the transition will depend on engineers, refrigeration and air-conditioning technicians, teachers at vocational schools and young specialists. This makes it necessary to update vocational training programmes, safety standards and equipment at training centres.

Cooling is becoming a climate and energy issue

There is another reason why this issue goes far beyond the ozone layer.

As temperatures rise, demand for air conditioning increases. The more air conditioners there are, the greater the electricity consumption. That is why today it is important to consider not only which gas is inside the equipment, but also how much energy it consumes.

For Kyrgyzstan, this connection is becoming particularly relevant as interest grows in heat pumps, which can be used both for cooling and heating buildings.

Equipment choices made today shape conditions for years to come. An air conditioner or refrigeration system can operate for 10–20 years. Buying outdated technology today effectively means making decisions about future costs, refrigerant imports, and the need for further modernization.

“We need to prepare for the future in advance. It is important to invest today in knowledge, skills and environmentally safe solutions,” emphasizes Mars Amanaliev.

The history of the Montreal Protocol shows that global environmental problems can be addressed. It took scientific evidence, international rules, financial support for developing countries, new technologies, and time for businesses to adapt.

At the same time, the world did not have to give up refrigerators and air conditioners. The technology itself changed, allowing the same needs to be met with less harm to the environment.

Now the challenge is more complex: to ensure that cooling does not contribute to warming the climate and consumes less energy at the same time.