93rd meeting of the Executive Committee

 This summary is intended to provide a brief overview of the decisions taken at the 93^rd meeting of the Executive Committee. The meeting report can be found at http://multilateralfund.org/93/default.aspx

 

Introduction

 

The 93^rd meeting took place from 15 to 19 December 2023 at the headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Montreal, Canada and was attended by the representatives of 14 Executive Committee member countries and participants co‑opted from 32 other countries, implementing agencies (IAs), the Ozone Secretariat, and other observers. Ms. Annie Gabriel of Australia presided as Chair of the Executive Committee during the meeting.

 

At this meeting, the Committee took a total of 106 decisions, and approved project and work programme activities for 89 countries with a value of US $96,603,283, including agency support costs for IAs.

 

Secretariat activities^[1] (decision 93/1)

 

The Executive Committee noted with appreciation the report on Secretariat activities and requested the Secretariat to prepare a document on the mapping of reporting requirements and the streamlining of reporting on progress across the spectrum of reports, taking into account the ongoing development of the knowledge management system, for consideration at the 95^th meeting.

 

Financial matters

 

Status of contributions and disbursements^[2] (decision 93/2)

 

As at 15 December 2023, the balance of the Multilateral Fund stood at US $530,716,939 in cash[3] and the cumulative fixed-exchange-rate-mechanism loss was approximately US $29.81 million. The Executive Committee urged all Parties to pay their contributions to the Multilateral Fund in full and as early as possible and requested the Chief Officer and the Treasurer to continue following up with countries that had outstanding contributions for one triennium or more, and to report back at the 94^th meeting. The Committee also noted with appreciation the discussions between the representatives of the Governments of Israel and the Russian Federation, and the Deputy Executive Director of UNEP, as well as communications with the Secretariat and the Treasurer, and invited these Governments to resume contributions and catch up with outstanding contributions to the Multilateral Fund. All Parties were urged to pay their contributions in full and as early as possible.

 

Report on balances and availability of resources^[4] (decision 93/3)

 

IAs returned balances of US $4,235,786, including agency support costs, against completed projects to the Multilateral Fund. The Executive Committee requested IAs to disburse or cancel commitments not needed for completed projects and to return the balances at the 94^th meeting. UNDP and UNIDO were requested to disburse or cancel commitments for projects completed over two years previously and to return the balances at the 94^th meeting; and to disburse or return to the 94^th meeting the balances of completed projects funded using the additional voluntary contributions.

 

Accounts of the Multilateral Fund

 

Final 2022 accounts (decision 93/4)

 

The Executive Committee noted the final audited financial statements of the Multilateral Fund as at 31 December 2022^[5] that had been prepared in accordance with the International Public Sector Accounting Standards. The Treasurer was requested to record in the 2023 accounts of the Multilateral Fund the differences between the IA’s provisional 2022 financial statements and their final 2022 financial statements.

 

Reconciliation of the 2022 accounts (decision 93/5)

 

The Executive Committee noted the reconciliation of the 2022 accounts^[6] and requested the Treasurer and relevant IAs to carry out a number of adjustments and related actions. The Committee noted the 2022 outstanding reconciling items that would be updated prior to the 95^th meeting.

 

Approved 2024 and 2025 and proposed 2026 budgets of the Fund Secretariat^[7] (decision 93/6)

 

The Executive Committee noted the revised 2023, 2024 and 2025 and proposed 2026 budgets and the return of funds from the 2022 approved budget for the Secretariat. The Committee also agreed to include additional resources, totaling US $671,063, for the Secretariat in the revised budget for 2024 and thereafter. The revised 2024 budget of the Secretariat of US $9,281,086 was approved, including the additional resources referred to above. The revised 2025 budget of the Secretariat of US $8,895,687 was also approved, with the additional resources, also noting that phase 3 of the knowledge management system had not been included therein. The proposed 2026 budget of the Secretariat of US $9,056,985 was also approved, based on the 2025 budget, including two meetings of the Executive Committee in Montreal and a three per cent increase in staff costs.

 

Country programme data and prospects for compliance^[8] (decision 93/7)

 

138 countries submitted their country programme (CP) data reports for the year 2022, including 7 received after the issuance of the meeting document. The Executive Committee requested the Secretariat to send letters to countries regarding the outstanding 2022 CP data reports, and to provide options for consideration by the Executive Committee, at its 96^th meeting, on potential modifications to section D of the CP data reporting format, specifically in relation to HFC-23 generated, destroyed or maintained as stocks, taking into consideration any decision taken by the Meeting of the Parties pursuant to paragraph 3 of decision XXXV/7. Relevant IAs were requested to continue assisting the respective Governments in clarifying discrepancies between their CP and Article 7 data for 2022 and to report back by the 94^th meeting.

 

Evaluation

 

Evaluation of the performance of implementing agencies against their 2022 business plans and revised set of performance indicators for the implementing agencies (decision 91/8(c)) (decision 93/8)

 

The Executive Committee noted the evaluation of the performance of IAs against their 2022 business plans.^[9] It also encouraged national ozone units to submit, on a yearly basis and in a timely manner, their assessments of the qualitative performance of the bilateral and IAs in assisting their governments, and requested UNDP to have open and constructive discussions with the NOU of the Dominican Republic to resolve any issues raised in the evaluation of the performance of UNDP and to report to the 94^th meeting on the outcome of the discussions. The Committee also decided to modify the performance indicators established in decision 71/28, as follows, noting that the new performance indicators would apply as of the 2025–2027 business plans:

 

Type of indicator	Short title	Calculation	Weight-ing
Planning-Approval	Tranches approved	Number of tranches approved vs. those planned*	10
Planning-Approval	Individual projects/ activities approved	Number of projects/activities approved vs. those planned (including project preparation activities)	10
	Subtotal		20
Implementation	Funds disbursed	Based on estimated disbursement in progress reports	15
Implementation	ODS phase-out for HCFC-related projects	ODS phase-out for HCFC-related projects in ODP tonnes vs. those planned per progress reports	10
Implementation	HFC phase-down for HFC-related projects	HFC phase-down for HFC-related projects in CO2‑eq tonnes vs. those planned per progress reports	10
Implementation	Project operational completion	Project operational completion vs. planned in progress reports for all activities (excluding project preparation)**	15
Implementation	Gender mainstreaming	Operational policy on gender mainstreaming applied to all approved projects	10
Implementation	Subtotal		60
Administrative	Speed of financial completion	The extent to which projects are financially completed within 12 months after project operational completion	10
Administrative	Timely submission of project completion reports	Timely submission of project completion reports based on the progress report	5
Administrative	Timely submission of progress reports and business plans	Timely submission of progress reports and business plans and responses unless otherwise agreed	5
Administrative	Subtotal		20
	Total		100

* The targets of an agency will be reduced if it cannot submit a tranche owing to another cooperating agency or lead agency or if the HCFC phase-out management plan (HPMP) or Kigali HFC implementation plan (KIP) submitted for consideration by the Executive Committee is not approved as a result of factors beyond the control of the national ozone unit and agency.

** The targets of an agency will be reduced if an extension of the completion date has been approved by the Executive Committee.

Progress update on the external assessment of the evaluation function of the Multilateral Fund and the review of project completion reports

 

The Executive Committee noted the progress update reports contained in documents UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/93/10 and UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/93/11.

 

Terms of reference for the evaluation of the Compliance Assistance Programme (decision 93/9)

 

The Executive Committee approved the terms of reference for the desk study for the evaluation of the UNEP Compliance Assistance Programme.^[10]

 

Monitoring and evaluation work programme for the years 2024-2025 (decision 93/10)

 The monitoring and evaluation work programme for the years 2024-2025^[11] was approved at a budget of US $115,000 for the year 2024, which included a reallocated amount of US $40,000 from the year 2023, and a budget of US $175,000 for the year 2025. The Committee also selected the three thematic evaluations for the year 2025 proposed in paragraphs 19 to 21 of document UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/93/13/Rev.1 for inclusion in the monitoring and evaluation work programme for 2024–2025, and requested the Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer to prepare the corresponding terms of reference to be considered by the Executive Committee at the 95^th and the 96^th meetings, as per annex I to the work programme on planned deliverables for 2024 and 2025.

 

Programme implementation

 

Consolidated progress report and progress reports of bilateral and IAs as at 31 December 2022 (decisions 93/11 – 93/16)

 

The Executive Committee noted the 2022 consolidated progress report^[12] and annual progress reports on the implementation of approved projects and activities submitted by bilateral and IAs,^[13] and also noted with appreciation, the efforts undertaken by bilateral and IAs in reporting their 2022 activities. Bilateral and IAs would report, at the 94^th meeting, on 105 projects with implementation delays and 16 ongoing projects recommended for additional status reports.^[14] The Committee also approved the extension of projects for four countries,^[15] noted the request from Afghanistan to transfer from UNEP to UNIDO the following projects of its HPMP: stage I, fourth tranche and stage II, first tranche , and cancelled the HPMP for Myanmar (stage I, first, second and third tranches, preparation for stage II and technical assistance for verification report).

Reports on projects with specific reporting requirements^[16] (decisions 93/17 to 93/24)

 

The Executive Committee took note of or took decisions, to approve or follow up on specific issues, on those related to: the HPMPs for 8 countries[17]; the additional activities to maintain energy efficiency for the servicing sector under decision 89/6(b) for the Maldives; the request for extension of the HFC enabling activities project for India; the critical use exemptions for methyl bromide, the final report on the global chiller replacement project, and the project to control emissions of HFC-23 generated in the production of HCFC-22 for Argentina.

 

2023 consolidated project completion report^[18] (decision 93/25)

 

The Executive Committee requested bilateral and IAs to submit to the 94^th meeting the outstanding project completion reports (PCRs) for multi-year agreements (MYAs) and individual projects or provide the reasons for failing to do so. Lead and cooperating IAs were urged to closely coordinate the finalization of their portion of PCRs to allow the lead IA to submit the completed PCRs in a timely manner. Bilateral and IAs were also requested to include relevant and useful information, including gender information, about the lessons learned and the reasons for any delays to enable the formulation of recommendations to improve future project design and implementation. All those involved in the preparation and implementation of MYAs and individual projects were invited to consider the relevant lessons learned from PCRs when preparing and implementing future projects. The Committee also noted that the submission of a PCR for technical assistance for verification reports would no longer be required from 2024 onwards.

 

Business planning

 

Update on the status of implementation of the 2023–2025 consolidated business plan of the Multilateral Fund^[19] (decision 93/26)

 

The Executive Committee noted that the total value of activities submitted to the 93^rd meeting amounted to US $100,567,379 (including US $23,789,140 for HFC-related activities; US $7,419,281 for pilot projects for energy efficiency; and US $3,222,500 for the preparation of national inventories of banks of waste-controlled substances), including US $12,521,905 for project proposals not included in the 2023 business plan. The Committee also decided to allow, on an exceptional basis, bilateral and IAs to submit, during 2024, projects for the preparation of national inventories of banks of waste-controlled substances under the funding window established pursuant to decision 91/66, even in cases where such projects had not been included in the agencies’ business plans.

 

Tranche submission delays^[20] (decision 93/27)

 

31 out of 56 activities related to tranches of HPMPs that were due for submission to the 93^rd meeting were submitted on time. The Committee noted that relevant bilateral and IAs had indicated that the late submission of the tranches of HPMPs due for submission at the 93^rd meeting would have no impact, or was unlikely to have an impact, on compliance with the Montreal Protocol, and that there was no indication that any of the countries concerned were in non‑compliance with the Montreal Protocol control measures. The Secretariat was requested to send letters to the relevant Governments regarding the decisions on tranche submission delays.

 

2024‑2026 business plans (decisions 93/28-93/33)

 

The Executive Committee endorsed the 2024‑2026 consolidated business plan of the Multilateral Fund^[21] as adjusted by the Secretariat and the Committee, taking into consideration relevant decisions taken at the 93^rd meeting, while noting that endorsement did not denote approval of the projects identified therein or their funding or tonnage levels.^[22] The Committee also decided to note that the level of the activities in the business plan of the Government of Germany for 2024–2026 should be considered in the light of the bilateral activity allocation for the triennium 2024–2026. Performance indicators were approved for UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO and the World Bank.^[23]

 

Project proposals

 

Overview of issues identified during project review^[24]

 

Consideration of HFCs contained in imported pre-blended polyols in the polyurethane foam sector in stage I of the Kigali HFC implementation plans (decision 93/34)

 

The Executive Committee requested the Secretariat to prepare, for consideration at the 95^th meeting, a brief note on the issue of HFCs contained in imported pre-blended polyols in the polyurethane foam sector in Article 5 countries on the basis of past practice with regard to HCFCs contained in imported pre‑blended polyols. Committee members also agreed that the issue of alternatives in PU foam manufacturing should be discussed at the 94th meeting and that the Secretariat should prepare a separate paper for that meeting including experiences, best practices and information with regard to alternatives.

 

Bilateral cooperation^[25] (decision 93/35)

 

The Executive Committee requested the Treasurer to offset the costs of the bilateral projects approved at the 93^rd meeting in the amount of US $1,548,940 (including agency support costs) against the balance of the bilateral contribution of the Government of Germany for 2021-2023 and US $2,174,663, including agency support costs, against its approved pledge for 2024–2026, and in the amount of US $67,800 (including agency support costs) against the balance of the bilateral contribution of the Government of Japan for 2021-2023.

 

Approved projects (decisions 93/36 to 93/90)^[26]

 

Funding of US $78,551,847, including agency support costs was approved for: renewals of institutional strengthening (IS) projects for 27 countries^[27] (US $9,271,678); project preparation for stage II of the HPMP for one country[28] (US $33,300); project preparations for stage III of HPMPs for two countries[29] (US $139,100); verifications relating to the HCFC production phase-out management plan (HPPMP) for China (US $54,500); preparation for KIPs and/or HFC investment‑related activities for 13 countries[30] (US $2,133,660); preparation of national inventory of banks of waste controlled substances and development of a national plan for management of these substances for 33 countries[31] (US $3,222,500); new stages II/III of HPMPs for six countries[32] (first tranche amounting to US $7,300,366); tranches of HPMPs for 19 countries^[33] (US $36,922,479); stage I of the KIPs for 23 countries[34] (first tranche amounting to US $29,841,917); pilot projects to maintain and/or enhance the energy efficiency of replacement technologies and equipment in the context of HFC phase-down for eight countries[35] (US $1,569,665), KIP energy efficiency strategies for two countries[36] (US $1,378,823) and individual projects on additional activities to maintain energy efficiency for the servicing sector under decision 89/6(b) for ten countries[37] (US $809,760).

 

UNEP’s Compliance Assistance Programme^[38](CAP) (decision 93/91)

 

The Executive Committee approved the 2024 CAP budget at a level of US $10,631,200, plus agency support costs (US $850,496). The Committee noted that in line with decision 93/95(d), the budget approved included an increase of US $200,000 for the provision of technical and policy assistance to low volume consuming (LVC) countries to support the implementation of KIPs, that had to be used within 24 months and balances would be returned to the Multilateral Fund. The Executive Committee requested UNEP, in future submissions of the CAP budget, to report on the technical and policy assistance activities carried out for LVC countries and their impact in line with decision 93/95(d), and to continue providing detailed information on the activities for which the global funds would be used; extending the prioritization of funding between CAP budget lines so as to accommodate changing priorities and providing details, pursuant to decisions 47/24 and 50/26, on the reallocations made; reporting on the current post levels of staff and informing the Executive Committee of any changes thereto, particularly with respect to any increased budget allocations; and providing a budget for the year in question and a report on the costs incurred in the year prior to the previous year. The Committee also requested UNEP to submit a final report detailing lessons learned from the implementation of the first phase of the global technical assistance project for the twinning of national ozone officers and national energy-efficiency policymakers to support the Kigali Amendment objectives when submitting the second phase of the project at the second meeting in 2024.

 

2024 core unit costs for UNDP, UNIDO and the World Bank^[39] (decision 93/92)

 

The Executive Committee approved core unit funding for 2024 for UNDP of US $2,357,835, UNIDO of US $2,264,760, and the World Bank of US $1,947,145, and noted with appreciation, that core unit operations of UNIDO and the World Bank were below their budgeted levels and that the agencies would be returning unused balances at the 93^rd meeting.

 

Matters related to the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol

 

Draft  guidelines  for  funding  the  phase-down of HFCs in Article 5 countries, including consideration of operationalizing paragraph 24 of decision XXVIII/2 (paragraph 189 of document UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/92/56)

 

Following progress of discussions at previous meetings, the Executive Committee continued to discuss the matter after document UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/93/96 was introduced. After establishing a contact group, the Committee considered two separate proposals on the outstanding elements of the HFC cost guidelines put forward, one by non-Article 5 countries and the other by Article 5 countries. In addition, some non-Article 5 countries had suggested that an extra percentage bonus might be provided to encourage the transition to no- or low-GWP alternatives.

 

Following the report of the contact group, the Executive Committee agreed to pursue, at its 94^th meeting, discussion of this agenda item, using the working documents contained in annex LXII to the meeting report.

 

Operational framework to further elaborate on institutional aspects and projects and activities that could be undertaken by the Multilateral Fund for maintaining and/or enhancing the energy efficiency of replacement technologies and equipment in the manufacturing and servicing sectors when phasing down HFCs: A report on decision 92/38(a) (decision 93/93)

 

The Secretariat introduced document UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/93/98 and an exchange of views was held in the plenary. Several members thanked the Secretariat for its report, which they described as detailed, well-structured and comprehensive in terms of the range of important matters that it covered. A contact group was established. Topics recommended to be discussed by the group included: the need for pilot projects on energy efficiency to be implemented flexibly in order to incorporate lessons learned; the incentive and the output-based approaches introduced in part II.1 of the report; the mechanism for measuring energy-efficiency gains from investment activities; the operational modalities of proposed non-investment activities; details of the funding window outlined in part VII of the report; details on the operation of a revolving fund and its implications, including in terms of reporting requirements; the linking of the adoption of low-GWP refrigerants to energy-efficiency efforts; the feasibility analysis mentioned in subparagraph 5(e) of the report; and what exactly was meant by high impact transformative change.

 

Following the report of the contact group, the Executive Committee decided to note the document and continue to advance efforts at the 94^th meeting towards adopting an operational framework to support maintaining or enhancing energy efficiency, taking into account the information presented in document UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/93/98 and other information requested. The Committee invited countries that wish to do so, in the framework of decision 91/65, to submit projects for maintaining and/or enhancing energy efficiency while phasing down HFCs as part of KIPs, noting that the Executive Committee was holding consultations on the funding modalities explained in document UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/93/98. The Secretariat was requested to prepare a document, for consideration at the 94^th meeting, that would further elaborate on the operational framework to support maintaining and/or enhancing energy efficiency and would include matters agreed by the Committee.

 

Paper containing information on the types of activities that Article 5 countries could undertake, on the nature of the assistance required and on supply-chain issues that needed to be resolved to address consumption in the local installation and assembly subsector in their Kigali HFC implementation plans (decision 92/39(c)) (decision 93/94)

 

The representative of the Secretariat introduced document UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/93/99 and an exchange of views was held in the plenary. The Committee decided to note the document and take into consideration the information provided when discussing issues related to the local installation and assembly subsector and in deciding further steps on the matter. Article 5 countries were invited, through the bilateral and IAs or their KIPs, to continue providing to the Secretariat, on a voluntary basis, information on the local installation and assembly subsector. The Secretariat was requested to provide, at the 95^th meeting, an update to the document, taking into account additional information provided by Article 5 countries. Bilateral and IAs and Article 5 countries were encouraged, when developing projects in the local installation and assembly subsector under stage I of their KIPs, to ensure that such projects take a strategic approach to facilitate the sustained phase-down of HFCs in the applications being targeted by the project.

 

Draft template for an Agreement for stage I of Kigali HFC implementation plans (paragraph 219 of document UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/92/56)

 

The Committee established a contact group to discuss the matter. Following the report of the contact group, the Executive Committee agreed to continue, at the 94^th meeting, consideration of the draft template for an Agreement for stage I of KIPs using the working document set out in annex LXIII to meeting report.

 

Review of the administrative cost regime of the Multilateral Fund (decisions 88/74(c) and 91/67(b)) (decision 93/95)

 

The Executive Committee noted the review of the administrative cost regime of the Multilateral Fund, as contained in document UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/93/101 and agreed that further discussions on the matter could take place informally. Further to the report by the facilitator of the informal group, the Committee decided to approve an increase in the core unit funding for UNDP, UNIDO and the World Bank, by US $200,000 each, for each year of the triennium 2024–2026, for the strengthening of their capacity to provide technical and policy support to Article 5 countries, on the understanding that the increase only applied to the triennium 2024–2026. The Committee also decided that the administrative cost regime of the Multilateral Fund for the triennium 2021–2023 would be maintained for the triennium 2024–2026, except for agency fees for stage I of KIPs for LVC countries, which would be applied starting from the 93^rd meeting as follows:

 

·         At 13 per cent for projects up to a value of US $500,000;

·         At 13 per cent on the first US $500,000 and 11 per cent on the balance for projects with a value exceeding US $500,000;

 

The Committee also approved the increase in the CAP budget for the years 2024, 2025 and 2026 by US $200,000, US $150,000 and US $150,000, respectively, for providing technical and policy assistance to LVC countries to support KIP implementation, on the understanding that the funding allocation for each year would be used within 24 months and the balances would be returned to the Multilateral Fund; and UNEP would report on the technical and policy assistance activities provided to LVC countries and their impact as part of the narrative of their CAP annual progress reports. The Committee decided to review the administrative cost regime and its core unit funding budget at the last meeting of 2026, (i.e. the last meeting of the triennium 2024–2026), including a review of the implementation of the increased in core unit funding for UNDP, UNIDO and the World Bank.

 

Overview of the current monitoring, reporting, verification and enforceable licensing and quota systems developed with support from the Multilateral Fund (decision 91/68) (decision 93/96)

 

Following the introduction of document UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/93/102, the Executive Committee discussed the matter and decided to note documents UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/93/102, UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/91/69 and UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/89/3 on an overview of current monitoring, reporting verification and enforceable licensing and quota systems developed with support from the Multilateral Fund, and noted with appreciation the work of the Secretariat in preparing the documents referred to above and the recommendations therein.

 

Results framework and a scorecard that fit the operations of the Multilateral Fund (decision 92/41(b)) (decision 93/97)

 

Following the introduction of document UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/93/103, members of the Executive Committee expressed appreciation for the revised results framework and associated scorecard and acknowledged the Secretariat’s efforts in developing them. The improved framework was described as clearer, simpler and more intuitive than previous iterations.

 

The Committee approved the results framework and scorecard presented in the document referred to above, including the format of the scorecard contained in annex LXIV to the meeting report, and requested the Secretariat to start the implementation of the first results framework in 2024, to provide a midterm progress report on that implementation at the second meeting of 2025 and to communicate progress in implementation through a scorecard at the second meeting of 2027, together with ideas for updating the indicators.

 

Report of the Sub-group on the Production Sector^[40]

 

The Sub‑group on the Production Sector (Australia (facilitator), Brazil, China, Cuba, Finland, Italy, Kenya, and the United States of America) met twice in the margins of the meeting and took five decisions:

 

Addendum to the 2019, 2020, and 2021 verification reports of the HCFC production sector in China (decision 91/70(b)(i)) (decision 93/98)

 

At the recommendation of the Sub-group, the Executive Committee noted the addendum to the 2019, 2020, and 2021 verification reports of the HCFC production sector in China, submitted by the Government of China, through the World Bank.

 

2022 verification report of the HCFC production sector, including an update on the enterprise Suqian Kaier (decision 91/70(b)(iii)) and the one-off verifications requested under decision 91/70(b)(ii) and (c) (decision 93/99)

 

The Executive Committee noted the 2022 verification report of the HCFC production sector in China considered by the Sub-group on the Production Sector; the update related to Suqian Kaier; and that the Government of China would revise its Article 7 data for HCFCs to reflect the changes identified in the 2022 annual production verification report. The Committee requested the World Bank to continue including in annual production verification reports information on HCFCs captured from high-boiling residue as a mixture of HCFCs or a single component and subsequently sold or used for controlled or feedstock use; and to include the additional verification of production lines that produced HCFCs for feedstock use in the 2023 verification to be undertaken in 2024. The Committee also requested the Government of China to submit a report to the 94^th meeting on the matter relating to the reporting of HCFCs captured from high-boiling residue, under Article 7 of the Montreal Protocol. The Committee also provided to the World Bank, on an exceptional basis, a one-time payment of US $50,000 for support of verifications of HCFC tonnage of lines owned by enterprises that were not included in the HCFC production phase-out management plan.

 

Matters related to HFC-23 (decisions 91/70(e) and (f) and 91/71(c)) (decision 93/100)

 

The Executive Committee invited the Government of China, through the World Bank, to submit, at the 95^th meeting, an update on the development of technical guidelines being developed by the Government of China for reporting on HFC-23 generation and emissions and a description of the methodology used to report that generation and those emissions under Article 7 of the Montreal Protocol; an update containing the most recent information on HFC-23 generation, destruction and emissions in China and any relevant regulatory or implementation updates; and an analysis that would clarify the discrepancy between Article 7 reporting and the 2021 and 2022 verification reports. The Secretariat was requested to engage with the World Bank and provide further analysis at the 95^th meeting on the mass balance emissions estimates as compared to Article 7 reporting.

 

2019–2022 investigation of HCFC feedstock applications (decision 91/71(b)(i)) (decision 93/101)

 

At the recommendation of the Sub-group, the Executive Committee noted with appreciation the annual reports on the investigation of HCFC feedstock applications in China for 2019 to 2022, submitted by the Government of China through the World Bank, and invited the Government of China, through the World Bank, to continue to submit annual investigation reports of HCFC feedstock applications in China undertaken under the country’s HCFC production phase-out management plan to the last meeting of the respective year.

 

Draft updated guidelines and the standard format used for the verification of ODS production phase‑out (paragraph 243 of document UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/92/56) (decision 93/102)

 

The Executive Committee decided to define a “vertically integrated facility” and approved the updated guidelines and the standard format used for the verification of ODS production phase-out, contained in annex II to document UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/93/104/Rev.1; and noted that the Secretariat’s review of verification reports submitted in line with the updated guidelines might be delayed due to the need to compare the verified production data with the data submitted under Article 7 of the Montreal Protocol; and in line with paragraph 4 of Appendix 5-A of the Agreement between the Government of China and the Executive Committee for stage II of the HCFC production phase-out management plan, that the World Bank may require additional funding for the verification of production lines beyond those for which tonnage was included in paragraph 3 of the Agreement, and that in line with subparagraph (c) of decision 83/70, the Committee would consider the need for such additional funding on a case-by-case basis.

 

Other matters

 

Discussion on a comprehensive approach for the implementation of the Kigali Amendment(decision 93/103)

 

After discussions on  the several new dimensions brought by the Kigali Amendment to the implementation of the Montreal Protocol, including with regard to energy efficiency and the disposal of refrigerants at end of life, the Committee decided to request the Secretariat to organize a dedicated half-day session prior to the 94^th meeting of the Executive Committee for an informal discussion on strategic approaches to Kigali Amendment implementation, including issues related to policies and regulations, cooling and phase-down strategies, energy efficiency, sector approaches and life-cycle refrigerant management; to invite the members of the Committee for 2024 to send written views on the above issues to the Secretariat by 1 March 2024, and to request the Secretariat to prepare a compilation of inputs broken down by topic and to present that document for discussion at the dedicated session prior to the 94th meeting.

 

Funding window to assist Article 5 countries affected by the coronavirus disease pandemic

 

After the request made by an Executive Committee member, the Committee agreed to include the issue relating to a funding window to assist Article 5 countries affected by the coronavirus disease pandemic on the agenda of its 94^th meeting.

 

Life-cycle refrigerant management pursuant to decision XXXV/11 (decision 93/104)

 

An Executive Committee member introduced this topic and the Committee requested the Secretariat to prepare, for consideration by the Committee at its 97^th meeting, a report providing an overview of the report of the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel and the outcomes of the workshop that would be held in line with decision XXXV/11 of the Thirty Fifth Meeting of the Parties; and of the status of implementation and preliminary outcomes of the projects submitted under decision 91/66 with a view to considering the establishment of a funding window in line with decision XXXV/11.

 

Modalities for the distribution of funding tranches for Kigali HFC implementation plans (decision 93/105)

 

Further to the discussion on this matter, the Executive Committee requested the Secretariat to prepare, for consideration at the 94^th meeting, an analysis of the implications of decision 62/17 for implementation of HPMPs, with a view to enabling the Committee to discuss whether and how to revise its approach to the timing and the value of the final tranche of a multi-year agreement. The Committee also decided that, pending further decision on the matter by the Executive Committee, the Secretariat, in consultation with bilateral and IAs, would finalize the tranche distribution of stage I of KIPs on a case-by-case basis.

 

Dates and venues of the 94^th to 97^th meetings of the Executive Committee^[41] (decision 93/106)

 

The Committee discussed this matter and decided to hold a half-day session for an informal discussion on strategic approaches to Kigali Amendment implementation on 26 May 2024 in line with decision 93/103 and its 94^th meeting from 27 to 31 May 2024 as per the fallback option outlined in decision 91/73(c), in Montreal, Canada, at ICAO. The Committee also decided to hold its 95^th meeting from 4 to 8 December 2024 in Montreal, Canada, at ICAO; its 96^th meeting from 26 to 30 May 2025 in Montreal, Canada at ICAO; and its 97^th meeting from 1 to 5 December 2025 in Montreal, Canada, at ICAO.

 

Attendance at the 93^rd meeting of the Executive Committee