Refrigerants Naturally Initiative
[last updated December 15, 2005 5:36 PM]

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General Information
Partnership website(s)
Expected Timeframe
November 2005 - Open Ended
Partners
Governments:
    		Major Groups:
    • The Coca-Cola Company (Belgium)
    • McDonald´s (Germany)
    • Unilever (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
    UN System:
    • United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (France)
    		Other intergovernmental organizations:
      Other:
        		 
        Thematic Focus
        Primary Themes:
        • Climate change
        		 Secondary Themes:
        • Chemicals
        • Air pollution / Atmosphere
        • Changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production
        • Industrial development
        Geographic Coverage
        Geographic Scope: Global
        Country(ies) where the partnership is being implemented:
        Denmark, Greece, Japan, Spain
        National Focal Points
        At present, no information is available as to whether the partnership has made contact with the national focal points for sustainable development in the relevant countries.
        Goals and Objectives
        Summary of the partnership's goals and objectives
        The Initiative scope consists of those in the supply, production, transport and retailing of food and drink who require point-of-sale cooling technology, including technology and component suppliers. Thus it includes supermarkets but not mobile air conditioning, general manufacturing, or general household.
        Goals:
        - To promote a shift in the point-of-sale cooling technology in the food and drink, food service and retail sectors towards natural refrigerants with a low-or non-Global Warming Potential.
        - To do this whilst improving or (at least) equaling energy efficiency of existing fluorocarbon based technology
        - To provide a working group and supportive environment for those committed to implementing natural refrigerants who will share information with each other and with suppliers on achieving the other objectives
        - To outreach a wider public including other industry, governments and global society
        Targets and Progress
        Partnership targets
        - Public commitment to natural refrigerants with low- or non-Global Warming Potential in point-of-sale cooling applications, and prospective timetables for doing so
        - Public commitment to the objectives of the initiative described above
        - Substantial effort or investment (comparable to the scale of the company involvement in cooling) being undertaken to establish and implement natural refrigerants, including R&D, testing, financial investment, staff time or political energy
        - Company must be operating within the 'scope' described above.
        Progress against targets
        Regular (annual) review of development and commitments
        Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer
        Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer
        • Education/building awareness
        • Technology transfer/exchange
        - Sharing of technical information about alternative refrigeration between the partners of the initiative via regular meetings, special events/workshops, and bilateral exchanges. - Educating governments, media and the general public about the purpose and results of the partnership through outreach events, press briefings and a web site.
        Relationship to International Agreements on Sustainable Development
        How the partnership contributes to the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
        This partnership involving the private sector and a United Nations body addresses Agenda 21, Chapter 9, ?C. Preventing stratospheric ozone depletion? as it seeks to replace CFCs consistent with the Montreal Protocol, recognizing that the replacement's suitability should be evaluated holistically and not simply based on its contribution to solving one atmospheric or environmental problem.
        It also addresses the following sections of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation:
        - ?III. Changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production (a)?, as it encourages industry to improve environmental performance through voluntary initiatives.
        - ?IV. Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development 38 (b)? as the partners work cooperatively towards achieving the objectives of the UNFCCC, ?38 (f)? as it involves development and dissemination innovative technologies in regard to key sectors of development through private sector involvement and international cooperation and ?39 (c)? as it supports the effective regime for the protection of the ozone layer established in the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol.
        - ?X. Means of implementation 106 (c)?, as it creates a partnership conducive to investment and technology transfer, development and diffusion, to assist developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, in sharing best practices and promoting programmes of assistance, and encourage collaboration between corporations to enhance environmental management. Relevant Sections of Agenda 21
        Protection of the atmosphere
        Relevant Sections of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
        Changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production ; Protection and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development ; Means of implementation
        Coordination and Implementation
        Coordination Mechanism of the Partnership
        - Providing a platform and a critical mass in communicating with the refrigeration technology supply chain, with other users and other relevant stakeholders
        - Sharing technical information to encourage and spread excellence, as appropriate
        - Communicating with all Governmental, political and public institutions, when appropriate, about the feasibility and environmental gain of non-HFC cooling
        Implementation Mechanism of the Partnership
        Annual meeting / conference to review and develop status
        Resources
        Funding Currently Available
        Amount in US$:
        Source(s): Private sector
        Resources for funding initiative activities such meetings, information materials, etc.
        Non-financial resources available
        Type(s): Staff
        Source(s): Private sector - IGO - NGO
        Commitment of time and staff from partners
        Funding Sought
        Required Amount in US$:
        Source(s) already approached:
        Non-financial resources sought
        Requirement(s):
        Source(s) approached and details:
        Additional Information
        Additional Relevant Information
        The partners are seeking other major companies in the food and drink industry worldwide to join the initiative and adopt similar technology. New partners will be expected to both contribute resources in terms of internal research and development/investment in alternative refrigeration technologies, and to participate fully in the process to manage the initiative itself (e.g. via in-kind and other contributions).