Since 1996 GTZ Proklima has been working on reducing and subsequent phasing-out of ozone depleting substances, such as CFCs, halons, methyl bromide, in developing countries.  Proklima follows guidelines and resolutions adopted in the 1987 “Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer”.

Proklima cooperates with a variety of private and public partners:

• United Nations organizations,
• German government,
• Governments in partner countries in Africa, Asia and Latin-America ,
• Associations representing industrial sectors,
• Vocational training institutions,
•  Individual companies in the production and service sectors.

Proklima advises governments of partner countries on drafting local regulations and setting policies that will comply with all international environmental agreements.

In the industrial sector, Proklima assists companies in replacing ozone depleting technologies with environmentally friendly and economically attractive alternatives. Proklima ensures that promoted replacement technologies comply not only with the obligations under the Montreal Protocol but also with other international environmental agreements, such as the Kyoto Protocol. These goals were already being met during Proklima’s early activities such as the conversion of CFC-production lines for household refrigerators using environmentally friendly hydrocarbon refrigerant technology. This technology was pioneered in Germany and transferred by Proklima to China and India, in cooperation with Greenpeace, Swiss Contact, Infras, and other partners.

Proklima supports vocational training institutions in partner countries providing the necessary know-how through training curricula, training of instructors, and necessary training equipment.

Today, Proklima cooperates with 30 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America in the fields of refrigeration, foam blowing, fire fighting equipment and agriculture. Such broad cooperation is also due to the countries’ appreciation for German technology, know-how and technical expertise provided by Bosch-Siemens, Liebherr, Bayer and other major industrial companies.

Certain gases regulated under the Kyoto Protocol, such as N20, all fluorinated gases and Methane have also a strong indirect negative impact on the ozone layer. Through warming the atmosphere at ground level, ozonedestruction in the stratosphere is considerably aggravated. The Montreal and Kyoto Protocols overlap here very strongly. Further interfaces exist between the Montreal Protocol and other conventions, e.g. on persistent organic pollutants. Such interactions and their consequences for the implementation of projects and improvement of the environment are increasingly taken into consideration under Proklima’s commission since 2004.