Help redevelop UNEP&rsquo;s HCFC Help Centre

The United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP’s) OzonAction is collecting input on the priorities of different countries and world regions in relation to the HCFC phase out process. The information, collected through an online survey, will be used to develop a new HCFC Knowledge Portal that will be launched later this year.

The current HCFC Help Centre is being revised to strengthen its role as an effective online tool to inform and educate. All National Ozone Units and other policy bodies are being asked to fill in a survey about their priority information needs and the use of interactive knowledge exchange tools. This information will be used to develop a new interactive HCFC Knowledge Portal, through which countries can exchange knowledge.

One of the key aims of the new site will be to actively engage with Article 5 countries in the phase-out process of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and share best practice between those with acquired knowledge on the HCFC phase-out process and those countries still facing stronger challenges. The new Portal will help countries harness economic, social and climate benefits of HCFC phase out and at the same times move towards a “green economy”.

Share your views on HCFC phase out process

The online survey launched by the UNEP OzonAction branch to facilitate the work of national Ozone Units on the implementation of HFCF Phase-out Management Plans (HPMP), is open to all involved stakeholders. A discussion forum enables interested parties to provide feedback or ask questions and a sharing function allows for an easy spreading of content via Twitter and Facebook.

The survey - available in English, French and Spanish – consists of 19 questions in the following fields:

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

The questions are designed to gather information about the 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.

Next steps in platform development to be outlined in autumn 2012 report

Whilst the next steps to be taken in building the interactive Knowledge Platform will be outlined in a report to OzonAction, National Ozone Units and other involved parties will also have access to a summary of selected findings in an Open Report to be launched later this year.

Background: HCFC Phase-out & UNEP OzonAction

The Montreal Protocol has entered into its second phase: the phase-out of HCFCs, following the successful completion of the phase-out of the production and consumption of CFCs on 1 January 2010. This second phase out poses certain challenges linked to the parallel phase-out of HCFCs under national HPMPs, resulting in the need for information and knowledge exchange. 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.

The UNEP DTIE OzonAction Branch assists developing countries and countries with economies in transition to enable them to achieve and sustain compliance with the Montreal Protocol. For all issues surrounding the HCFC Knowledge Portal a special support email was created: ozonaction.egroup@unep.org