The Second Meeting of the Regional Ozone Network for Europe and Central Asia was held in Yerevan, aiming to promote the exchange of experience and best practices in implementing the Montreal Protocol among countries of the region. The event was jointly organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia.
National officials responsible for the implementation of the Montreal Protocol from European and Central Asian countries participated in the meeting, along with representatives of the UNDP, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the Ozone Secretariat.
Ara Mkrtchyan, Deputy Minister of Environment of the RA, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the event, welcoming the guests and thanking them for their cooperation. “Armenia is pleased to host the next meeting of the European and Central Asia Regional Network of the OzonAction part of UN Environment Programme's Law Division. Thanks to the programmes implemented jointly with the UN, our country ensures the implementation of its commitments under the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol, while strengthening sectoral institutional capacities. The Kigali Amendment, which Armenia ratified in 2019, aims to contribute to climate change mitigation through the control of ozone-depleting and fluorinated gases.
I am convinced that this meeting will contribute to the exchange of experience and strengthen effective cooperation between our countries,” noted Deputy Minister Ara Mkrtchyan.
The meeting agenda featured presentations on the progress of projects implemented under the Montreal Protocol, as well as discussions on energy efficiency and refrigeration system safety, best practices for integrating gender approaches, and experience-sharing in the areas of fluorinated gases phase-down, licensing, and monitoring.
Following the meeting, participants identified regional priorities for 2026, emphasizing the importance of continued international cooperation, knowledge exchange, and innovative approaches.