Southeast Asian Countries Gather in Yogyakarta to Strengthen Lifecycle Refrigerant Management

National focal points of the Montreal Protocol and the Basel Convention convened in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, for the Thematic Workshop on Strategy, Policy Recommendations and Action Plans for the Life-cycle Management of Controlled Substances, organised by the UN Environment Programme’s OzonAction in partnership with Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry. 

At the workshop, government representatives shared experiences and lessons learned as they prepare national inventories of used or unwanted controlled substances under the Montreal Protocol.

“Recycled and reclaimed refrigerants can significantly reduce countries’ reliance on importing new refrigerant,” said Jim Curlin, Head of UNEP OzonAction. “But this requires a joined-up approach: strong national inventories, sound policies and regulations, the right infrastructure, capacity building, sustainable financing, and engagement across the full refrigerant lifecycle. It also means closer regional and international cooperation to track and control the movement of used or unwanted substances across borders,” he added.

Denise San Valentin, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) Secretariat’s Cooling focal point, attended the Workshop and spoke on the first day. She highlighted the potential of the national Lifecycle Refrigerant Management (LRM) plans now being developed by 127 countries to help them meet their obligations under the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment, and to advance climate commitments under their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement. She also presented the forthcoming UNEP/CCAC publication “National Plans for Lifecycle Refrigerant Management: A Practical Guide for Developing Countries” and led sessions on financing LRM and managing the cross-border movement of refrigerants.

“Lifecycle refrigerant management has been a concept central to the Montreal Protocol community, and we are now seeing it recognised by waste management and climate experts too. According to the Montreal Protocol’s Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP), good lifecycle refrigerant management practices could cut HFC and HCFC emissions by an estimated 39 Gt CO2e between 2025 and 2050, and up to 67 Gt CO2e by 2100. That is a huge opportunity, and the CCAC is committed to working closely with partner countries, the international community, civil society, and the private sector to reduce emissions as much as possible,” said San Valentin.

Lifecycle refrigerant management (LRM) aims to prevent and reduce refrigerant leaks at every stage of the refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump (RACHP) lifecycle. This covers refrigerant production, storage, and transport; equipment design, manufacture, and installation; operation and maintenance; and the recovery, reuse, and safe disposal of refrigerants at end of life.

Effective lifecycle refrigerant management also requires coordination beyond National Ozone Units. Waste management officials and Basel Convention focal points play a central role, since controlled substances are typically classified as hazardous waste and subject to cross-border movement rules. These officials are also responsible for regulations governing the disposal of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment.

In December 2022, the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund (MLF) established a funding window to help countries prepare national inventories of stored or unwanted controlled substances, along with plans for their collection, transport, and disposal—including options for recycling, reclamation, and cost-effective destruction. As of December 2025, 127 countries are receiving support to complete these inventories and develop national action plans, through MLF implementing agencies: the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the World Bank, and GIZ.

LRM is one of the CCAC’s priorities in the cooling sector. Since 2019, the CCAC has been raising awareness and strengthening the capacity of developing countries through global and regional workshops, as well as direct country support. Examples include the electronic tracking system of refrigerants in Viet Nam and a Pilot Project on Refrigerant Destruction in Cement Kiln in Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe—both of which offer practical models that countries can draw on when developing their national action plans.