Diverse partnerships for sound management of chemicals, waste, plastics and for sustainable cooling

The challenges of transforming to circular economy and sound management of chemicals require addressing technical, financial, capacity, regulatory, and other barriers. This work requires a closer collaboration of partners with diverse set of capabilities and perspectives. In order to support the achievement of sound chemicals and waste management and transition to sustainable cooling solutions, UNDP works with a diverse set of partners. Building on existing initiatives and partnerships with governments, bilateral donors, vertical funds, UN agencies, UNDP explores and furthers cooperation with various partners to develop integrated solutions to scale up the innovation and impact on chemicals and waste management, plastics management, and sustainable cooling.

Multilateral Partners

Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol (MLF)

The Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol assists developing country parties to the Montreal Protocol to comply with the control measures of the Protocol. Currently, 147 of the 197 Parties to the Montreal Protocol meet these criteria. They are referred to as Article 5 countries.

The Multilateral Fund is managed by an Executive Committee with equal membership from developed and developing countries. The Fund Secretariat, located in Montreal, assists the Executive Committee in its tasks. Projects and activities supported by the Fund are implemented by four international implementing agencies and a few bilateral agencies. UNDP is an implementing agency of the Multilateral Fund and supported 120 countries to meet their obligations under the Montreal Protocol.

Global Environment Facility (GEF)

The Global Environment Facility provides catalytic funding to developing countries to eliminate the most harmful chemicals, which are covered by the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the Minamata Convention on Mercury, and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The GEF also supports the achievement of broader sound management of chemicals and waste through its support to the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), the United Nations’ policy framework to promote chemical safety around the world. As an implementing agency of GEF, UNDP supported 40 countries to devise and implement policies and actions to get rid of hazardous chemicals.

Inter‐Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC)

The Inter‐Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC) is the pre‐eminent mechanism for initiating, facilitating and coordinating international action to achieve the World Summit on Sustainable Development 2020 goal for sound management of chemicals. As a result of its commitment to promote coordination of policies and activities, the IOMC participating organizations have assisted developing countries in building their capacity for mainstreaming the sound management of chemicals and waste. 

The IOMC is dedicated to providing a comprehensive set of scientific and technical tools that promote the sound management of chemicals and waste, and the opportunities it provides for green and decent jobs. UNDP contributes to the work of IOMC as a Participating Organization.

Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) is a voluntary partnership of governments, intergovernmental organizations, businesses, scientific institutions and civil society organizations committed to improving air quality and protecting the climate through actions to reduce short-lived climate pollutants. It includes hundreds of state and non-state partners, and hundreds of local actors carrying out activities across economic sectors. UNDP became a CCAC partner in 2012. UNDP’s contribution to the work of the Coalition focuses on reducing the negative impacts of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) on climate and energy use and on reducing short-lived climate pollutant emissions from cooling.

Cool Coalition

The Cool Coalition is a global multi-stakeholder network that connects a wide range of key actors from government, cities, international organizations, businesses, finance, academia, and civil society groups to facilitate knowledge exchange, advocacy and joint action towards a rapid global transition to efficient and climate-friendly cooling. The Cool Coalition is now working with over 100 partners, including 23 countries. As a member of the Coalition, UNDP actively shares its experiences and lessons learned in the development of national cooling plans and phasing down of HFCs and contributes to the development of strategies.

Climate and Ozone Protection Alliance (COPA)

UNDP supported the process of the establishment of Climate and Ozone Protection Alliance (COPA) becoming one of its founding members. UNDP actively participated in brainstorming, discussions, and meetings on the functioning and the structure of the Alliance. UNDP coordinates the working group on financing mechanisms for proper disposal of end-of-life refrigerants and foam with global warming potential.

Bilateral cooperation

Canada

Canada cooperates with UNDP to support developing countries to implement the Kigali Amendment and phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Under this partnership, Bangladesh, Belize, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador, Jamaica, and Peru undertook enabling activities for the ratification and start-up of the implementation of the Kigali Amendment. Major cooling appliances manufacturers in the Dominican Republic and Mexico carried out conversions of their production lines to the use of natural refrigerant. Currently, Canada and UNDP are working together to support Colombia, Haiti, Mexico, Peru, and Senegal to implement the Kigali Amendment on the phase down of hydrofluorocarbons. Specifically, activities will be undertaken to develop and demonstrate the use of low-GWP alternative technologies in Colombia, Mexico and Peru, supply equipment to reduce use of HFCs through recovery and recycling in Haiti and provide training equipment and capacity to a training center in Senegal.

France

The French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM) supports several initiatives on chemicals and waste management and cooling. FFEM is contributing to a project in Costa Rica that addresses plastic waste management capacities and reduction of its use through innovative approaches. FFEM is supporting the efforts to build national and municipal capacity for the sound management of PCB and UPOPs in the Gambia. Building on the recommendations of National Cooling Action Plans, UNDP supported the development of a project “Abating greenhouse gas emissions from obsolete RAC equipment in West Africa (AGORA)” in Nigeria and Ghana and FFEM will provide funding support.

New Zealand

Under the partnership with New Zealand, the team has been supporting Small Island Developing States (SIDS) through knowledge sharing, training, south-south cooperation, and demonstration activities that can help to address the challenges and barriers facing by SIDS in the implementation of the Montreal Protocol. The use of more energy efficient and ozone-friendly refrigeration and air conditioning equipment was piloted in Fiji, Maldives, and Timor-Leste, while the assessment for potential district cooling systems were carried out in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. A study of cold chains in several SIDS was also undertaken.

Civil Society and Philanthropy Organizations

Avfall Sverige

UNDP and Avfall Sverige, the Swedish Waste Management Association cooperate on solid waste management towards the achievement of zero waste and circular economy vision. The partners are expanding the work towards zero waste based on the lessons and results of the first collaborative project. This partnership also conducted collective advocacy during the Stockholm+50 conference, and in other regional events and workshops. This advocacy affirmed the importance of addressing waste management, emphasizing that it is a key challenge for the achievement of the 2030 agenda and requires bold commitment and planning efforts from key stakeholders such as local and national governments. Policy and programming advisory services were also provided through UNDP country offices to governments and municipalities through this partnership.

Ocean Clean Up

The Ocean Cleanup is a non-profit organization that develops advanced technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. They are cleaning up floating plastics caught swirling in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a plastic accumulation zone with over 100,000,000 kilograms of plastic. UNDP collaborates with the Ocean Cleanup to eliminate plastic pollution in oceans and rivers around the globe. The goal of the partnership is to reduce leakages of plastics into marine ecosystems by boosting policies and behavior change aimed at advancing sound plastic waste management systems and reducing overall plastic pollution, and accelerating the deployment of interception technologies in rivers to end marine plastic pollution.