UNEP launches survey on new HCFC Knowledge Portal

UNEP’s OzonAction Branch has launched a project platform to collect input for a new HCFC Knowledge Portal to be launched later this year. The current HCFC Help Centre will be revised to strengthen its role as an effective online tool to inform and educate, but most importantly actively engage with Article 5 countries in the phase-out process of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). The future interactive platform aims to exchange knowledge between countries with acquired knowledge on the HCFC phase-out process to countries still facing stronger challenges. It will be open to all involved stakeholders, serving as a catalyst for best-practice.

All interested parties can provide feedback or ask questions on a discussion forum created on the current project platform. A sharing function moreover allows for an easy spreading of content via Twitter and Facebook.

Survey for National Ozone Units & Policy Stakeholders

The revision of the current HCFC Help Centre is necessary to engage countries for achieving compliance with the 2013 and 2015 control measures for HCFCs and methyl bromide, and to harness economic, social and climate benefits at the same time to move towards a “green economy”. To facilitate especially the work of national Ozone Units on the implementation of HFCF Phase-out Management Plans (HPMP), an online survey has been launched by the UNEP OzonAction branch.

The survey - available in English, French and Spanish - will enquire about priorities of different countries and world regions in the HCFC phase-out process, identify networks and communication needs and outline general use patterns of internet tools. It will take national and international policy bodies around 10-15 minutes to reply to 19 questions in the following fields:

• Policy, HCFC Phase-out & Alternatives
• Information Sources, Networks & Communication Needs
• HCFC Knowledge Portal
• IT Use & Social Media

Open Report to be launched in Autumn 2012

Results from the survey will be made available to the OzonAction Branch in a report to outline next steps in building an interactive Knowledge Platform, and providing recommendations on the content management of such a website. Moreover, National Ozone Units and other involved parties will gain access to a summary of selected findings in an Open Report to be launched later this year.

Background: HCFC Phase-out & UNEP OzonAction

With the successful completion of the phase-out of the production and consumption of CFCs on 1 January 2010, the Montreal Protocol has entered into its second phase: the phase-out of HCFCs. The challenges linked to this second phase are to be found in the parallel phase-out of HCFCs under national HPMPs, and the resulting need for information and knowledge exchange. At the 20th anniversary meeting of the Montreal Protocol an agreement was reached to accelerate the phase-out of production and consumption of HCFCs. The schedule for Article 5 country phase-out for production and consumption of HCFCs foresees a freeze by 2013, and a 10% reduction of HCFCs by 2015.