OzonAction is a branch of the
United Nations Environment Programme
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system. It was established by Maurice Strong, its first director, after the Declaration of the United Nati ...
(UNEP) which has its main office in
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
, 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. James S. Curlin acted as Interim Head of Branch from 1 August 2011 until 17 December 2012. Shamila Nair-Bedouelle served as Head of Branch from 18 December 2012 until 1 April 2019. James S. Curlin was nominated head of the branch.
UNEP OzonAction assists developing countries and countries with economies in transition (CEITs) to achieve and sustain their compliance with the
Montreal Protocol
The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion. It was agreed on 16 ...
on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, and make informed decisions on alternative technologies and ozone-friendly policies.
UNEP OzonAction has implemented over 1,000 projects and services that have benefited more than 100 developing countries. It has also assisted 17 CEITs and provided further services that have served another 40 countries.
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".
UNEP's OzonAction branch is one of the Fund's implementing agencies, along with others, such as
UNIDO
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) (French: Organisation des Nations unies pour le développement industriel; French/Spanish acronym: ONUDI) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that assists countries in ...
,
UNDP
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a United Nations agency tasked with helping countries eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth and human development. The UNDP emphasizes on developing local capacity towar ...
and the
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and Grant (money), grants to the governments of Least developed countries, low- and Developing country, middle-income countries for the purposes of economic development ...
.
References
External links
Official website
{{United Nations
OzonAction
France and the United Nations