Ghana marks World Ozone Day with push for climate-friendly cooling technologies

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to protecting the ozone layer and promoting climate-friendly cooling technologies.

The commitment was made in a statement on the commemoration of World Ozone Day on Wednesday, September 16, under the theme, “Global Action for a Cooler Planet.”

The observance also marks 10 years since the adoption of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which seeks to reduce the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), potent greenhouse gases commonly used in cooling equipment.

The EPA said Ghana had made significant progress in meeting its obligations under the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment, including the complete phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) by 2010.

“Ghana ratified the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol in 1989 and has since ratified all its amendments, including the Kigali Amendment, formalising the country's commitment to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs),” the EPA said.

The Authority said it is continuing to reduce the use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) under the second stage of its HCFC Phase-out Management Plan.

It said Ghana is also committed under its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to achieving 70% penetration of very-low-global-warming-potential refrigerants in air conditioners by 2030.

The EPA said the transition is expected to promote more energy-efficient cooling, reduce household energy costs and improve access to climate-friendly technologies.

It also highlighted the passage of the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technicians Certification Regulations, 2025 (L.I. 2503), which provides a framework for the training and certification of technicians across the country.

Another regulation, L.I. 2505 (2025), provides an updated framework for the management of ozone-depleting substances, halocarbons, alternatives and related products.

The EPA said it had also adopted the National Cooling Plan and Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) Roadmap to guide the transition towards high-efficiency and low-global-warming-potential technologies.

As part of the transition, the Authority and its partners are promoting natural refrigerants such as propane, isobutane, ammonia and carbon dioxide for domestic, commercial and industrial cooling.

The EPA has also introduced a voluntary “green label” scheme to help consumers identify cooling equipment that uses natural or low-global-warming-potential refrigerants.