Caribbean National Ozone Units Learn How ASHRAE and RAC Associations Can Support the Montreal Protocol
GRENADA – How can refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) associations help Caribbean countries implement the Montreal Protocol? Association leaders participated in a fireside chat during UNEP OzonAction’s 2025 Network Meeting for Caribbean National Ozone Officers and Grenada’s Sustainable Cooling Exhibition on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, exploring this important issue. Leslie Smith, head of Grenada’s National Ozone Unit, moderated the session. Darryl Joseph, 2024-25 President of ASHRAE’s Caricom Chapter, was a panelist.
The discussion focused on the current state of RAC associations in the Caribbean, the challenges they face in remaining active, and the key elements necessary to sustain vibrant organizations capable of contributing to the Protocol’s phase-out and phase-down targets. The panel also explored the potential for establishing a regional RAC association that could effectively support national, regional, and international objectives under the Montreal Protocol.
The Montreal Protocol is widely regarded as the most successful multilateral environmental agreement (MEA) in history. It was adopted in 1987 to protect the ozone layer by phasing out ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and is now addressing the phase down of HFCs. Its phase-out and phase-down schedules cover the production and consumption of nearly 100 man-made chemicals (like CFCs, HCFCs, and later HFCs) that damage the stratospheric ozone layer and contribute to global warming through the buildup of greenhouse gases.
Along with Joseph, the panel featured Robert Nunez, Vice President of the Air-conditioning Refrigeration Industry Association of Trinidad and Tobago, and Mr. Sherman Edgar from the National Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Association of Saint Lucia.
Smith identified two major themes emerging from the conversation:
- The urgent need to expand capacity-building opportunities for RAC technicians across the region.
- A strong call to establish a regional association of RAC technicians to enhance collaboration, representation, and technical standards across the Caribbean.
Joseph described the different levels of assistance that ASHRAE can provide and the tools for engineers and technicians that ASHRAE has developed through its partnership with UNEP. These tools and resources are available at www.ashrae.org/ashrae-unep-portal.
The event was financially supported by the Montreal Protocol's Multilateral Fund.
I think we need to get more sustainable and lower GWP options to the region and provide as much guidance as possible so countries can meet their National Determined Contributions based on the Kigali Amendment,” Joseph said. “We can also advocate for manufacturers to expand the availability of different types of refrigerants. Grenada is doing well on that front by leading in the use of R290 and R32 in its domestic market.”
Grenada’s cooling policies are built around its National Cooling Action Plan (NCAP) and NDC Cooling Implementation Roadmap, which aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from refrigeration and air conditioning while improving energy efficiency and resilience. The NCAP focuses on reducing direct and indirect GHG emissions from the RAC sector and supports Grenada’s obligations under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, phasing down HFCs. The NDC Cooling Implementation Roadmap (2025–2030 sets a pathway for RAC sector emissions reductions, integrating cooling into Grenada’s climate resilience strategy.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), represented by the OzonAction Law Division, and ASHRAE have a Memorandum of Understanding to coordinate delivery of technical services to RAC stakeholders (governmental, private, and public) in developing countries. ASHRAE’s Caricom Chapter’s participation in UNEP OzonAction’s 2025 Caribbean Network Meeting was part of a joint effort connecting NOUs and ASHRAE chapters on collaborative efforts.
Leslie Smith, Head of Grenada’s National Ozone Unit, led a panel discussion on how RAC associations can help Caribbean nations meet their obligations under the Montreal Protocol and transition to lower GWP refrigerants.