Guidelines & Tools

National Plans for Lifecycle Refrigerant Management: A Practical Guide for Developing Countries

Published

2026

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National Plans for Lifecycle Refrigerant Management: A Practical Guide for Developing Countries provides a structured approach to help governments translate national inventories of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) banks into practical and costed National Action Plans.

The Guide supports Article 5 Parties in preventing emissions from existing refrigerant banks while aligning national actions with obligations under the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment.

By promoting the recovery, recycling, reclamation and environmentally sound disposal of refrigerants already in circulation, the Guide highlights the significant ozone and climate benefits that can be achieved through effective lifecycle management.

What the Guide supports

The Guide helps governments move from national inventories to practical action by supporting the development of National Action Plans for Lifecycle Refrigerant Management.

These plans can help countries address refrigerants already in circulation and strengthen national approaches to:

Recovery;
Recycling;
Reclamation;
Environmentally sound disposal;
Emissions prevention from existing refrigerant banks;
Alignment with the Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment.

Explore country actions

Different countries are already taking steps to strengthen lifecycle refrigerant management through regulation, recovery systems, technician certification, financing and compliance measures.

The country examples below show how national action can support the recovery, recycling, reclamation and environmentally sound disposal of refrigerants already in circulation.

Bahrain

Lifecycle Refrigerant Management | Policy • Reclamation • Compliance

Bahrain built an integrated framework for lifecycle refrigerant management, linking regulation, recovery and reclamation to reduce emissions, strengthen compliance and lower dependence on imports.

Key actions include making recovery and refill mandatory, banning disposable cylinders, supporting a national reclamation facility, and strengthening technician certification. Together, these measures reinforce a closed-loop system for refrigerant management.

Ghana

Lifecycle Refrigerant Management | Roadmap • Collection • Recovery

Ghana’s 2025 roadmap for ODS bank management is built around four policy pillars: regulation, financing, recycling and destruction infrastructure, and an efficient nationwide collection system.

Key actions include prioritising the safe collection and processing of ODS-containing equipment and substances, promoting recovery, recycling and reclamation of existing HCFCs, and supporting the transition to low-GWP alternatives to help prevent the creation of future refrigerant banks.

Grenada

Lifecycle Refrigerant Management | Data • EOL Management • Action

Grenada used data on ODS banks and end-of-life management to move from fragmented servicing practices toward a more structured national lifecycle refrigerant management approach.

Key actions include using data-driven inventories to plan effective LRM systems, leveraging existing servicing-sector capacity to address end-of-life equipment and substances, and considering regional export for destruction as a practical interim solution where local facilities do not exist.

Mexico

Lifecycle Refrigerant Management | Recovery • Recycling • Destruction

Mexico has built a comprehensive national framework for lifecycle refrigerant management, connecting recovery, recycling and destruction with broader circular-economy and environmental policies.

Key actions include scaling LRM from pilot interventions to national systems, developing domestic destruction capacity to reduce reliance on temporary storage or export, and integrating the informal servicing sector to strengthen recovery rates and compliance.

Togo

Lifecycle Refrigerant Management | PPP • Financing • Recycling

Togo is building the foundations for LRM through policy reform, institutional coordination and an innovative public-private partnership model for a national refrigerant recycling system.

Key actions include using PPP models to accelerate the establishment of recovery and recycling systems, updating inventories to align capacity and financing models with national needs, and creating clear procurement and PPP frameworks to enable sustainable financing and implementation.

Viet Nam

Lifecycle Refrigerant Management | Governance • Regulation • Tracking

Viet Nam has embedded lifecycle refrigerant management into environmental governance through legal reforms, implementation rules and digital tracking systems that strengthen compliance.

Key actions include institutionalising LRM through strong legal frameworks, using regulatory sequencing to clarify stakeholder roles across the refrigerant lifecycle, and improving compliance, reporting and transparency through digital tracking systems.