West Asia
Regional Network of Ozone Officers

The formation of the Ozone Officers network for West Asia was approved at the 21st Executive Committee Meeting in 1997. The West Asia region comprises of 12 member countries; Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestinian National Authority, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates and Yemen; all of whom are Party to the Montreal Protocol, with the exception of Iraq (they are in the process of ratifying Protocol) and the Palestinian National Authority (they submitted their request to become Party, which will be postponed until they become recognized as a state by the UN).

Based in Bahrain, the regional ozone network headed by a Regional Network Coordinator (RNC) and supported by a Programme Officer for Refrigerant Management Plan and a Programme Officer for Halon Management implementation, strive to enhance, strengthen and catalyze efforts of member countries to achieve and sustain their compliance with the Montreal Protocol and its amendments targeting the phase out of the Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) in a timely manner with minimum negative impacts on economic and social aspects.

This is done through several means mainly utilizing the technical and policy expertise of CAP in providing proper advice and services to countries as well as providing regular forums to facilitate direct contact and experience exchange between ODS officers in member states and key relevant organizations / secretariats, aiming at following-up and being ensured that their activities cover all needs of the countries concerning with the compliance of the Protocol, while keeping in line with the latest decisions of the Meeting of the Parties and the Executive Committee.

CAP also facilitates technology transfer through organizing thematic workshops / round table meetings for specific key-stakeholders based on the outcomes of biannual meetings of ODS officers. A number of capacity building and training workshops have been held throughout the region in support of countries implementation of the Montreal Protocol, including training for customs officers and support to the development of halon banks.

In addition, to ensure providing qualitative and on time support to member states, CAP with the full support of the ROWA Regional Director, initiates and maintains close coordination and cooperation at national high levels, as well as with regional and sub-regional organizations and secretariats [e.g. League of Arab States (LAS), Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment (CAMRE), Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO), World Customs Organisation (WCO), American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Airconditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)] to ensure their involvement and secure their momentum for maintaining the region in compliance with the Montreal Protocol.

The strategy for CAP West Asia, which was developed and endorsed by member states during 2003 network activities, was implemented by the CAP team in a form of work-plan for 2004-2005 and country-by-country approach. Field visits, missions and frequent close contact with national focal points for Montreal Protocol implementation enable CAP to tackle -in a timely manner- hot topics in the region particularly potential non-compliance cases, policy and legal assistance, urgent technical support, combating illegal trade, clearinghouse information activities and regular network meetings and thematic activities.

Highlights

• CAP supported the GCC Secretariat in developing a unified ODS regulation which was endorsed by GCC leaders in their annual summit in 2005 held in Abu Dhabi.
• CAP signed a regional cooperation agreement with the ASHRAE Chapters in West Asia to provide technical backstopping support to phase-out activities in West Asia countries in the refrigeration & air-conditioning sectors.
• Integration of Montreal Protocol with the three conventions (Basel, Stockholm and Rotterdam) in the role of the Arab Technical Team responsible for following-up Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) operating under the League of Arab States.
• Several training workshops were organized for Customs Officers on the control and monitor of ODS trade as well as curbing illegal trade. The concept of Green Customs was also introduced during these workshops - in coordination with the respective MEAs secretariats - as well as through individual meetings.
• CAP strategy also focused on the need for support to Iraq and Palestinian National Authority. CAP worked closely with Iraq, for ratification of a number of MEAs and will continue to work with them to further this activity.
• Presently the Palestinian National Authority continues as an observer at Network Meetings, when/where travel is possible, and funding for activities within Palestinian National Authority (not currently covered under the Multilateral Fund) are being investigated by CAP.
  

Achievements

In 2004 the non-compliance issue had been the center of attention for CAP and one of the main efforts was the organizing of a 'Sub-Regional Meeting on Compliance Requirements towards Montreal Protocol for West Asia,' which was held in Bahrain from 14-15 September 2004. This meeting gathered key representatives of the four countries, along with the Chairman of the Implementation Committee (ImpCom) and the West Asia Representative at the ImpCom (Jordan). The meeting provided further opportunity for countries to discuss in detail their individual cases and situations with the ImpCom representatives, as well as follow the steps taken to be in line with the criteria put forth by the 15th MOP in its decision XV/19 "Methodology for submission of requests for revision of baseline data".

As a result of the combined efforts of countries, CAP and ImpCom representatives, as well as the efforts of concerned Implementing and Bilateral Agencies, all cases of the West Asia Region were cleared by ImpCom and raised for approval at the 16th MOP. This is a big achievement and CAP will continue its efforts with countries in order to keep this clear record with obligations of 2005. It is expected that most of the West Asia Parties will likely face no difficulty to meet the 2007 cut-off (85%) of ODS consumption.

The other main achievement of CAP was providing necessary assistance to the GCC Secretariat to enact a unified regulation for control and monitor of ODS amongst the GCC states in order to facilitate their efforts in implementing their licensing system and quota system on a national basis and curbing illegal trade and avoid countries being dumping states at regional and global levels.

Future Priorities & Challenges in West Asia

Capturing current and forthcoming challenges in the West Asia region to maintain compliance with Montreal Protocol, it is easy to recognize several key challenges i.e. complying with final cut measure for CFCs and Halons, enforcing national/regional adopted legislation/regulations, curbing the growing trend of illegal trade in ODS, sustaining compliance beyond 2010 particularly for reducing dependency and freezing HCFCs consumption as well as developing policies that deal with cross-cutting issues with other MEAs.

The West Asia Network will therefore focus on the following issues:

Ratification

• Maintain high-level communication to assist Iraq in joining the ozone protection regime
  
• Continue work to encourage concerned countries to ratify all remaining amendments to the Montreal Protocol.
  

Compliance

• Ensure that early-warning and quick support are well provided to countries at risk
• Maintain follow-up with countries to achieve forthcoming measures 2007 and 2010
• Assess countries' needs to achieve compliance beyond 2010.

Policy enforcement and curbing illegal trade

• Provide the policy and technical advice and assistance to enforce the latest enacted ODS legislation including the new GCC unified regulation.
• ODS trade in free-zones is a major challenge (10 zones are in the region), special attention to be given in addressing this issue with respective countries.
  

Terminal Phase-out Management Plans/National Phase-out Plans

• Cooperation with other Implementing Agencies in preparing and implementing TPMPs/NPPs in an expedited approach that ensure meeting the compliance requirements

Cooperation with regional organizations

• Continue and strengthen the cooperation with the regional and sub-regional organizations and secretariats (LAS, CAMRE, GCC, RILO, WCO, ASHRAE) to ensure that ODS related concerns are well considered by related stakeholders.

Unwanted and/or waste ODS

• Assessing regional existing capacities to deal with ODS destruction needs in cooperation with other MEAs.
• Assist countries to assess national ODS quantities that need to be destructed in line with MOP and Executive Committee decisions.
  

Contact:
Mr Abdulelah Alwadaee
Regional Network Coordinator
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA)
P. O. Box 10880
Manama - Bahrain
Tel: +973-17812760
Fax: +973-17825110 / 1
Email: abdulelah.alwadaee@unep.org.bh
Web: http://www.unep.org.bh