UNEP in El Salvador Promotes Cooperation, Environmental Awareness, and Gender Equality

During the week of March 22 to 28, a delegation from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), OzonAction Branch for Latin America carried out a successful mission in El Salvador.

Organized by the OzonAction team under the management of Programme Officer, Markus Hoffmann, the visit’s main objective was to strengthen cooperation between institutions and associations related to the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) sector. In addition, activities were carried out to raise awareness among the main stakeholders about the negative impact that Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) and Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) have on the ozone layer and the climate system. Good practices in refrigeration and low global warming potential alternatives were also promoted among the RAC sector stakeholders, as well as gender equality in this area among different entities.

Highlighting El Salvador’s commitment to gender equality, exclusive group sessions were held for more than 60 women who work in various professions and tasks within the refrigeration and air conditioning industry. During these sessions, the challenges faced by women in this field were addressed. The country’s commitment to implementing the Multilateral Fund’s gender policy in activities related to the Montreal Protocol was notable during the mission. The National Ozone Office of El Salvador is the first to be supported by UNEP to work jointly on mapping the differences, inequalities, and specific needs of women in the RAC sector. This effort aims to develop a strategic roadmap that supports and promotes the participation, empowerment, and increase of Salvadoran women in the cooling world.

“This mission represents a significant advance towards gender equality in Montreal Protocol projects, in line with the objective of ensuring that both women and men have the same opportunities, conditions, and access to rights as full-fledged citizens,” national officials assure.

On the other hand, the informative sessions and workshops carried out with importers, end users, the refrigeration association (ASAIRE), and the technical staff of the RAC sector, played a fundamental role in raising awareness about the importance of adopting good practices and comprehensive management of refrigerant substances present in the equipment. Emphasis was placed on the relevance of using alternative refrigerants with low global warming potential, as well as on the importance of improving the energy efficiency of RAC equipment.

In addition, meetings with training institutions and the refrigeration association facilitated the creation of a joint action plan with the country’s Ozone Office. This plan focuses on strengthening the technical skills of the staff operating RAC equipment and improving the quality of the services provided to users.