On November 11, on the sidelines of the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Turkmenistan and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) signed an agreement to implement the third phase of a project aimed at phasing out hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) over the 2026–2030 period. This was reported by the IIC of Turkmenistan.

The agreement was signed by Ovezgeldy Goshjanov, Minister of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, and Alois Mlanga, Director of the Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol Division at UNIDO.

The project aims to further reduce the use of HCFCs, which are widely used in refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment and have harmful effects on the ozone layer. The gradual phase-out of these substances is part of efforts to meet commitments under the Montreal Protocol.

The new phase will build on the cooperation between Turkmenistan and UNIDO established through previous projects. Their joint efforts have focused on reducing HCFC consumption, introducing environmentally friendly technologies and strengthening national capacity for the management of ozone-depleting substances.

The signing of the agreement reaffirms both parties’ commitment to continued cooperation in environmental protection and the adoption of modern environmental solutions.