Recently, A-Gas attended and participated in the 36th Montreal Protocol Meeting of the Parties (MOP) and the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, more commonly known as COP29.
MOP aims to continuously review the progress and achieve the goals of the Montreal Protocol. COP’s coverage is much broader, focusing on a range of climate actions and sustainability initiatives.
This year, the MOP opened with a one-day workshop dedicated to Lifecycle Refrigerant Management (LRM) demonstrating how the participating countries had increased their understanding of the importance of managing refrigerants in an environmentally responsible way.
Elvira Nigido presented in the Deep Dive into Lifecycle Refrigeration Management (LRM) – Recovery, Reclamation and Recycling session during this workshop, following her participation in the LRM Task Force Report earlier this year. Louise McCann, Group Commercial Director, also joined a panel session called Financing Lifecycle Refrigerant Management, focusing on the need for significant investment in LRM.
In addition to this, A-Gas held its own side event - Incentivising Private Investment in Lifecycle Refrigerant Management. The event detailed A-Gas’ experiences on how it makes commercial decisions around LRM, including how the company considers environmental policy, the potential investment opportunities in carbon markets and the prioritisation of ease when considering transboundary shipping decisions.
Other participants from A-Gas included Hans Craen, Head of Government Affairs for A-Gas in Europe, Michael Labacher, Head of Environmental Services for A-Gas in South Africa, Sanjay Mathur and Mike Armstrong, Managing Director of A-Gas in the Americas. This showcased the global platform A-Gas has already established in LRM in addition to its business growth aspirations. All team members spent considerable time meeting with participating countries.
Hans Craen also joined a panel discussion on how data can support improved emission reductions in his capacity as Chair of Task Force for the European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE). This focused on the lack of correct European data for recovery, recycling and reclamation activities and the steps taken, both on a policy level and by the EPEE, to enhance knowledge in this area.
Increasing occurrence of extreme climate events have brought LRM sharply into focus with governments under pressure to take tangible steps to mitigate the unwanted release of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and/or those with a high global warming potential (GWP). The National Ozone Units (NOUs) of Article Five countries that our team interacted with are looking at seeking support from credible parties.
Following the MOP, Elvira also participated in an online panel at COP29, held in Baku, Azerbaijan. The session, Managing Refrigerant Banks for a Cooler Future, discussed A-Gas’ commitment to LRM and how this approach can be truly impactful in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It also covered how global platforms can offer the private sector meaningful pathways for businesses in terms of innovation and investment.
Participating in these events is a privilege and a fantastic achievement for A-Gas. We are proud to see our teams attending and presenting in events that have such a monumental impact in both the HVACR industry, positioning A-Gas as an end-to-end solutions provider, helping to build a sustainable future.
