48th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties

Title: Flammable Refrigerants are What Keep Us Awake

Description: As the refrigeration industry explores alternative refrigerants, many questions arise about the role and implications of flammable refrigerants. In this workshop, experts will discuss whether flammable refrigerants are truly necessary and why non-flammable options cannot always be used instead.

This side event will explain the differences between mildly and highly flammable refrigerants, clarify what this means in practice regarding safety requirements (incl. ATEX) and address whether for example the EU's F-Gas regulation still needs to be considered when moving to flammable refrigerants.

Key learnings: Understand the core principles of A3 refrigerant system design; dispel common misconceptions about ATEX components in refrigeration system design; and ensure staff is trained and certified to use flammable refrigerants safely.

Contact(s):

Andrea Voigt            

andrea.voigt@danfoss.com

Title: Elevating HPMP Training: Scaling Reach and Effectiveness through Digital Twins and Blended Learning

Description: This side event highlights the successful deployment of integrated physical and digital training ecosystems supporting the Montreal and Kigali Protocols, with a special focus on active programmes in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Kuwait. Implemented in partnership with UNDP, UNIDO, and National Ozone Units (NOUs), these initiatives demonstrate how uniting tactile HVAC training systems with immersive digital environments can dramatically accelerate technician upskilling.

A key feature of the session will be a live, interactive demonstration of a state-of-the-art training unit equipped with a fully integrated digital twin. This showcase will illustrate how cyber-physical technologies allow institutions to lower infrastructure costs, overcome geographical barriers, and safely train technicians on eco-friendly, low-GWP refrigerants.

Contact(s):

Steven McKee                        

steve@labtech.org

Title: Title: Atmospheric Degradation Products of HFO Refrigerants: Emerging Science and Policy Implications

Description: As HFO refrigerants gain wider adoption, scientific literature on their atmospheric degradation into TFA is growing. Concurrently, chemical regulatory processes in several jurisdictions are beginning to assess fluorinated substances more comprehensively

The side event will present the current scientific understanding of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as an atmospheric degradation product of HFO refrigerants and the Coalition's TFA emissions model, and to facilitate an informed exchange among parties on what this emerging evidence base means for technology assessment under the Montreal Protocol framework.

Contact(s):

Cinzia Verzeletti

cinzia.verzeletti@shecco.com

Title: Cool Up: Perspectives on ODS and HFC Recovery, Recycling and Reclaim in the MENA Region

Description: In addition to sector transformation, concepts for circular economy, in particular life cycle refrigerant management (LRM), are key to ensure the success of the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment. In this session, recovery, recycling and reclaim (RRR) are explained on a conceptual and implementation level. Funding of RRR schemes through the MLF is presented, followed by country examples from Cool Up partner countries such as Türkiye and Egypt. Experiences from the EU supermarket sector provide practical learnings.

Contact(s):

Felix Heydel                     

fh@oekorecherche.de

Title: Natural Refrigerants and the Kigali Phase-Down: Market Readiness and Technology Pathways

Description: As parties advance HFC phase-down schedules and Multilateral Fund replenishment discussions progress, the question of which alternative technologies are commercially available, cost-effective and future-proof becomes increasingly practical. This side event contributes market intelligence to that conversation, drawing on ATMOsphere's global research across commercial refrigeration, heat pumps, chillers and mobile air conditioning.

The side event will present on current market evidence on natural refrigerant commercial readiness across key equipment segments, and to explore how Kigali Implementation Plans and Multilateral Fund support can best align with available technology options.

The goal of this side event is to inform parties' technical delegates and Multilateral Fund stakeholders with current, evidence-based data on where natural refrigerants stand today, and where the market is heading.

Contact(s):

Cinzia Verzeletti

cinzia.verzeletti@shecco.com