11 November

12 November

Event: Launch event for the Global Nitrous Oxide Assessment 

Time: 14:15 – 15:00

Organiser(s): United States and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition

Location: United States Pavilion (F2)

Event Description: Nitrous oxide is the third most important greenhouse gas and the most abundantly emitted ozone depleting substance and included as one of six greenhouse gases managed within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. National and global climate mitigation efforts tend to focus on carbon dioxide and methane, reflected in new national commitments and the Global Methane Pledge to reduce emissions by at least 30% below 2020 levels by 2030. And yet, mitigation efforts that exclude nitrous oxide could make it much harder, if not impossible, to meet a range of climate, ozone and sustainable development objectives.

This assessment highlights the threats of rising nitrous oxide emissions and the multiple benefits from ambitious action.

The launch will be livestreamed on U.S. Center YouTube page and the assessment available to download here.

13 November

Event: Effective Ways to Boost Mitigation Ambition in NDC - Fluorocarbons Life Cycle Management in Cooling Sector

Time: 14:15 – 15:00

Organiser(s): Co-organised by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, the Asian Development Bank, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, and the Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center, Japan

Location: Japan Pavilion (C5)

Event Description: Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP) are potent climate forcers. Accelerating reduction of SLCP emissions, such as HFCs is a way to materialize immediate effect of mitigation. The international society becomes aware of the importance of non-CO2 reduction through 1st Global Stocktake at COP28.

On the other hand, many developing countries have not yet sufficiently included HFC reductions in their NDC. Lifecycle refrigerant management, i.e., recovery, recycling, reclamation, and destruction of refrigerants, has not been implemented, while cooling demand is rapidly growing, and thus such lifecycle management should have significant mitigation potential.

Japan, with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (ADB) and other partners, launched the Initiative on Fluorocarbons Life Cyle Management (IFL) at COP25 in Madrid, Spain, to support mitigation efforts of HFCs, etc. Based on the experiences in Japan, there are some progresses such as developing legislation and institutional framework, inventory, as well as introduction of infrastructure using the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM).

 At this event, the experts from developing countries and international agencies will share such experiences and will discuss how to maximize opportunity to raise mitigation ambition in NDC. Also, the event includes technical and practical aspects of MRV methodologies that will ensure high integrity of GHG accounting in the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) and carbon market mechanism.

Livestreaming accessible here.

Event: Working Meeting of Global Cooling Pledge (GCP) Focal Points and Members

Time: 18:00 – 20:00

Organiser(s): COP28 Presidency of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the UNEP-led Cool Coalition

Location: Special Event Room 1

Event Description: This interactive meeting, designed to engage all the focal points of the Global Cooling Pledge and the extensive membership of UNEP-Cool Coalition, will be held in-person. This GCP working meeting is dedicated to discussing the implementation of the Pledge amongst the Focal Points and the membership of UNEP-Cool Coalition. The discussions will focus on navigating the priorities, needs, and barriers to enable the Pledge’s signatories to progress in their implementation of the Global Cooling Pledge by COP30.

Dedicated to discussing the implementation of the Pledge amongst the Focal Points and the membership of UNEP-Cool Coalition, this session will focus on navigating the priorities, needs, barriers and partnerships to enable the Pledge’s signatories to progress in their implementation of the Global Cooling Pledge by COP30.  

14 November

Event: Cooling the Heat: Enhancing Energy Efficiency of the Refrigeration and Cooling Sector

Time: 11:30 – 13:00

Organiser(s): Montreal Protocol Ozone Secretariat with UNDP and Multilateral Fun Secretariat

Location: Side Event Room 5 

Event Description: Limiting hydrofluorocarbon (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol, one of the most successful environmental treaties, may avoid up to 0.5°C global warming. Improving energy efficiency in cooling could double this benefit. The event will focus on experiences, challenges, and solutions for sustainable cooling.

The session will emphasise the potential for achieving near-zero emissions in the cooling sector by 2050 through the adoption of low- and zero-GWP refrigerants, improved energy efficiency, and reduced building cooling loads. It will address barriers to accessibility, coordination, and financing for energy-efficient equipment and will discuss the role of integrated policy approaches and broad stakeholder engagement to mobilise finance, advancing progress under both the Montreal Protocol and the Paris Agreement.

15 November

16 November

Event: Managing Refrigerants Banks for Cooler Future

Time: 16:00 – 17:30

Organiser(s): Montreal Protocol Ozone Secretariat

Location: Buildings and Cooling Pavilion (G10)

Event Description: The Montreal Protocol has been pivotal in phasing out ozone depleting substances (ODS), used as refrigerants in various applications like air-conditioning, refrigeration, foams, and fire extinguishers. However, the existing ODS banks - defined as the total amounts of these substances still contained in equipment, and products not yet released into the atmosphere - represent a significant, hidden climate challenge, because many of ODS are also potent greenhouse gases.

This event will explore the magnitude of this threat and discuss effective strategies for managing and destroying the banks to prevent their leakage into the atmosphere. Solutions include life-cycle refrigerant management through leak prevention, recovery and reuse and safe destruction, which requires an effective policy framework and innovative financing.

The policy framework can be based on the extended producer responsibility scheme used for waste management and circular economy approaches. Managing banks can generate valuable carbon offset credits under the Paris Agreement through national and voluntary carbon trading mechanisms. Life-cycle refrigerant management can offer an innovative business models for industries and companies, attuned with the policy developments and market demand. 

17 November

18 November

19 November

20 November

21 November