Viet Nam proposes three priorities for ozone layer protection

The meeting took place from November 3–7 at the Headquarters of the United Nations in Nairobi, Kenya, with the participation of more than 600 delegates representing the Ozone Secretariat, international organizations, and 154 member countries of the Montreal Protocol.

Delegates discussed various issues, including the financial and budget reports of the Trust Fund for the Montreal Protocol, terms of reference for an additional study on the Multilateral Fund, emissions of HFC-23, strengthening atmospheric monitoring of controlled substances, lifecycle management of controlled substances, and regional and national initiatives supporting the implementation of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, as well as institutional strengthening under the Protocol.

The Vietnamese delegation presented three key priorities to promote global action in implementing the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment.

First, to develop policies and standards that establish a legal framework for mobilizing long-term investments in activities related to substance phase-out, energy efficiency improvement, and lifecycle management of refrigerants.

Second, to enhance access to finance, technology transfer, and capacity building for developing countries (Article 5 countries under the Kigali Amendment), particularly to deploy technologies using low global warming potential (GWP) substitutes, train technicians, and develop digital systems to monitor and control refrigerant flows.

Third, to promote the lifecycle management of refrigerants, including support for the recovery, recycling, reuse, and safe destruction of controlled substances, especially stored refrigerants.

The Vietnamese delegation also emphasized that achieving these global goals requires stronger commitments from developed countries in providing technical and financial assistance. Vietnam reaffirmed its readiness to actively engage in international partnerships, share best practices, and contribute scientific data to support evidence-based decision-making at future Protocol meetings. The country stressed that transparency, innovation, and inclusiveness must be at the heart of global climate and ozone protection efforts. Vietnam proposed establishing a regional cooperation mechanism to share data, technologies, and advanced refrigerant management models, helping Article 5 countries reduce costs and improve implementation efficiency. This approach is considered a crucial step toward narrowing the capacity gap between nations.

During the high-level session, Head of the Vietnamese delegation, Mr. Le Ngoc Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Department of Climate Change (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), provided updates on Viet Nam’s implementation of the management and elimination of ozone-depleting substances and controlled greenhouse gases. He noted that Vietnam is focusing on improving energy efficiency and managing the lifecycle of refrigerants. Cooling-related content has also been integrated into Viet Nam’s Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) for the period 2026–2035, prioritizing measures to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Mr. Tuan also called on all parties to strengthen cooperation in providing financial support, technology transfer, and capacity building for Article 5 countries in activities related to the recovery, recycling, and safe destruction of controlled substances.

On the sidelines of the meeting, the Vietnamese delegation held discussions with international organizations and development partners, including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), Japan’s Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center (OECC), and A-Gas Ltd. The parties discussed potential cooperation opportunities in technology transfer, refrigerant management, and regional recovery and recycling initiatives for Article 5 countries.

After five days of intensive work, MOP 37 adopted several important technical and administrative decisions related to strengthening atmospheric monitoring, upgrading refrigerant lifecycle management, and developing terms of reference for the review of the Multilateral Fund (MLF) for the 2027–2029 period.

In the session on atmospheric monitoring, experts from the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) highlighted opportunities for cooperation with countries, including Vietnam, to establish atmospheric monitoring stations to collect data on substances controlled under the Protocol. This presents an opportunity for Vietnam to consider setting up its own atmospheric monitoring station.

The next meeting (MOP 38) is scheduled to take place from November 2–6, 2026, in Rwanda. The event will mark the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Kigali Amendment (2016), a significant milestone in global efforts to reduce HFC emissions and promote comprehensive refrigerant lifecycle management.