UNEP OzonAction

{{Short description|United Nations environmental organization}}

{{Infobox organization

|name = UNEP OzonAction

|image = Hand_UNEP.jpg

|image_border =

|size = 175px

|alt = hand-over-the-earth

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|formation = 1991

|extinction =

|type = UNEP Branch

|status = Organization

|purpose = Capacity-Building

|headquarters = Paris, France

|location = Nairobi (Kenya), Bangkok (Thailand), Panama City (Panama), Manama (Bahrain)

|coords =

|region_served = Worldwide

|membership =

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|leader_title = Head of Branch

|leader_name = James S. Curlin. {{cite web | url=https://www.unep.org/ozonaction/who-we-are/people | title=Meet the team }}

|main_organ =

|parent_organization = United Nations

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|website = {{URL| http://www.unep.org/ozonaction/Home/tabid/5467/Default.aspx| UNEP OzonAction}}

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OzonAction is a branch of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) which has its main office in Paris, and is part of UNEP's Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE). Created in 1991, today it has staff located in five regional offices of UNEP, namely in Africa (Nairobi, Kenya), Asia & the Pacific (Bangkok, Thailand), Latin America and the Caribbean (Panama City, Panama), and West Asia (Manama, Bahrain).

Rajendra Shende, the Head of the Branch since 1992, retired on 31 July 2011.{{Cite web|url=http://www.unep.org/ozonaction/News/Features/2011/RajShenderetires/tabid/56173/Default.aspx|title = UNEP - UN Environment Programme}} James S. Curlin acted as Interim Head of Branch from 1 August 2011 until 17 December 2012.http://www.unep.org/ozonaction/AboutTheBranch/StaffContacts/Paris/tabid/6191/Default.aspx UNEP staff Shamila Nair-Bedouelle served as Head of Branch from 18 December 2012 until 1 April 2019.[https://en.unesco.org/news/shamila-nair-bedouelle-nominated-assistant-director-general-natural-sciences-unesco UNESCO News, "Shamila Nair-Bedouelle nominated Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences at UNESCO." 2 April 2019.] James S. Curlin was nominated head of the branch. {{cite web | url=https://www.unep.org/ozonaction/who-we-are/people | title=Meet the team }}

UNEP OzonAction assists developing countries and countries with economies in transition (CEITs) to achieve and sustain their compliance with the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer,{{cite press release|author=staff |url=http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/may2005/2005-05-04-02.html |title=United Nations Ozone Action Program Wins U.S. Government Prize |publisher=Ens-newswire.com |date=2005-05-04 |access-date=2011-07-24}} and make informed decisions on alternative technologies and ozone-friendly policies.{{cite web|url=http://www.theozonehole.com/ozonelinks.htm |title=The Ozone Hole Inc |publisher=Theozonehole.com |access-date=2011-07-24}}[http://www.thegef.org/gef/node/1395 Global Environment Facility ]

UNEP OzonAction has implemented over 1,000 projects and services that have benefited more than 100 developing countries.{{cite web|url=http://www.epa.gov/ozone/awards/winners_2005.html |title=EPA | 2005 Stratospheric Ozone Protection Awards |publisher=Epa.gov |date=2006-06-28 |access-date=2011-07-24}} It has also assisted 17 CEITs and provided further services that have served another 40 countries.{{cite web|url=http://www.solutions-site.org/artman/publish/article_380.shtml |title=Sweden and UNEP Team Up to Help Developing Countries Phase Out of Ozone-Depleting HCFCS |publisher=Solutions-site.org |access-date=2011-07-24}}

In order to help developing countries comply with the Montreal Protocol, the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol was set up. The Fund's "main objective is to assist developing country parties to the Montreal Protocol whose annual per capita consumption and production of ozone-depleting substances is less than 0.3 kg to comply with the control measures of the Protocol".{{cite web|url=http://multilateralfund.virtual.vps-host.net/ |title=Multilateral Fund |publisher=Multilateralfund.virtual.vps-host.net |access-date=2011-07-24}}

UNEP's OzonAction branch is one of the Fund's implementing agencies, along with others, such as UNIDO, UNDP and the World Bank.{{cite web|url=http://www.bmz.de/en/what_we_do/approaches/multilateral_cooperation/players/OtherInstitutions/MultilateralFund/index.html |title=Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development: Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol |publisher=Bmz.de |access-date=2011-07-24}}