UNEP/OzL.Pro.WG.1/33/1

UNITED
NATIONS / EP
/ United Nations
Environment
Programme / Distr.: General
12May 2015
English only

Inter-sessional informal consultation on

the feasibility and ways of managing HFCs

Vienna, 12-13 June 2015

Provisional agenda

Concept note of the Co-Convenors
The Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol at its thirty-fifth meeting held in Bangkok from 22 to 24 April 2015, agreed that “it would continue to work inter-sessionally in an informal manner to study the feasibility and ways of managing HFCs, including, inter alia, the related challenges set out in annex II to the[report of the thirty-fifth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group], with a view to the establishment of a contact group on the feasibility and ways of managing HFCs at the thirty-sixth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group” ([paragraph 128], UNEP/OzL.Pro.WG.1/35/6).
The provisional agenda for the inter-sessional informal consultation has been designed so that the two interlinked parts of the agreement can be adequately addressed. The first part is to study the feasibility and ways of managing HFCs, including the related challenges listed by the Working Group, and the second part isto discuss the scope and issues to be addressed by a possible contact group on the feasibility and ways of managing HFCs should the thirty-sixth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group decides to establish one.
An attempt has been made to group the listed challenges into five subject categories with a view to organizing the discussions. The Secretariat will provide short informal briefs on: (a) the technical challenges; (b) the policy related challenges based on the experience and the provisions of the Montreal Protocol; (c) the funding related challenges based on the experience of the Multilateral Fund; (d) the areas of synergies with the UNFCCC; and (e) the ecological effects.
An attempt will be made to distinguish:(a) the challenges for which possible solutions can be found under the current Montreal Protocol provisions;(b) the challenges for which strengthening of the Montreal Protocol’s provisions would be necessary; and (c) the challenges for which further information is needed. The informal consultation may suggest the establishment of a contact group at the thirty-sixth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group and also suggest the challenges and issues to be addressed by the contact group, as appropriate.
The Co-Convenors invite the participants, if they wish to do so, to send written information on: (a) their specific concerns with respect to the challenges listed in annex II; and (b) ideas and solutions to help address the identified challenges. The written inputs may be compiled by the Secretariat for distribution at the informal consultations.
  1. Introduction by the Co-Convenors.

Part 1: Feasibility and ways of managing HFCs including the related challenges (annex II, UNEP/OzL.Pro.WG.1/35/6)

  1. Discussion of the challenges listed in annex II:

(a)Technical issues

  • Availability of technologies
  • Performance and challenges at high ambient temperatures
  • Energy efficiency
  • Safety of substitutes
  • Rates of penetration of new alternatives

(b)Policy-related challenges within the Montreal Protocol framework

  • Relationship with the HCFC phase out
  • Non-party trade provisions
  • Exemptions and ways to address lack of alternatives
  • Flexibility in implementation

(c)Funding-related challenges

  • Funding requirements
  • Second and third conversions
  • Challenges to the production sector
  • Technology transfer
  • Capacity building

(d)Synergies with the UNFCCC (legal, financial aspects)

(e)Broader scientific and social considerations

  • Ecological effects
  • Implications for human health
  • Social implications
  • National policy implications.

3. Discussion on the identification of the challenges for which:

  • possible solutions can be found under the current Montreal Protocol provisions;
  • strengthening of the Montreal Protocol’s provisions may be required; and
  • further information is needed.

Part 2: Possible establishment of a contact group on the feasibility and ways of managing HFCs at the 36OEWG

  1. Mandate of a possible contact group.
  1. Suggestions for thethirty-sixth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group.
  1. Closure.

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