Title:  National Expert - Environmental Standards and Climate Action

The Directorate of Climate Innovation is responsible for planning, developing and implementing activities for developing countries and countries with economies in transition to facilitate compliance with the Montreal Protocol and in particular its Kigali Amendment, and to support countries to achieve their nationally determined contributions to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases under the Paris Agreement through activities related to the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment. The services of the division are focusing in particular on transformative approaches for manufacturing in refrigeration, air conditioning and insulation foam sectors; related working fluids and chemicals; total greenhouse gas emissions caused by related products; their green design to extend their lifetime and reduce further their greenhouse gas emissions; as well as related capacity building and policy support.

This position is under the Directorate of Climate Innovation/Montreal Protocol Unit (TCS/CMO/MPU).

PROJECT CONTEXT

•    Kigali HFC implementation plan (stage I, first tranche)

In 2016, a modification to the Montreal Protocol, the Kigali Amendment (KA), an international instrument in which countries committed to reducing the production and consumption of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in the next 30 years, was adopted in Kigali, Rwanda. It is estimated that the adoption of these measures will represent climate benefits of more than 80 billion tCO2e by 2050, which could prevent an increase of up to 0.5 °C in global temperature by the end of the century.

The KA establishes that all Parties to the Montreal Protocol must gradually reduce the use of HFCs according to a schedule stipulated in the Protocol (see: https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1365924O/unep-fact-sheet-kigali-amendment-to-mp.pdf). Mexico, as a Country operating under Article 5 and a member of Group 1, freezed its baseline consumption (average of the county’s 2020, 2021 and 2022 annual consumptions) in the year 2024 and progressively will reduce it to 80% of its baseline for the year 2045, in accordance with the reduction schedule established by said instrument.

Decision XXVIII/2 related to KA, establishes that A5 Parties will have flexibility in how to prioritize HFC phase-down, i.e. define sectors, select technologies/alternatives, develop and implement strategies to meet their agreed HFC-related obligations, considering their specific needs and national circumstances. The above principle was incorporated into the guidelines of the Executive Committee, at its 87th meeting held in July 2021. In the same ExCom 87 and in line with the request of the Government of Mexico, submitted through UNIDO, the ExCom approved funds for the preparation of the Kigali Implementation Plan (KIP) of Mexico. 

At its 93rd meeting, the Executive Committee decided to approve, in principle, stage I of the KIP for Mexico for the period 2023 - 2029 to reduce HFC consumption by 10 per cent of the country’s estimated baseline by 2029, as reflected in the schedule contained in annex II of the UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/93/70 document.

Furthermore the Executive Committee approved the pilot project to maintain and/or enhance the energy efficiency of replacement technologies and equipment in the context of HFC phase down for Mexico, under the conditions referred to in decision 91/65(b)(iv)b. to b(iv)d.; including that the project would be operationally completed no later than December 2026, and that a detailed project report would be submitted to the Executive Committee within six months of the date of completion of the project. One important component of such an energy efficiency project is the updating of the existing MEPS for RAC equipment with alternatives to HFCs, as well as the development of Energy-efficiency/safety standards for centralized commercial refrigeration systems for supermarkets and for chilled water chillers for AC.  

At the same time, as the implementation of the Kigali amendment in Mexico requires of further coordination with other climate action projects and activities conducted by the Secretariat of Environment of Natural Resources, the contribution of experts who can enhance the alignment of efforts is necessary to better seize the advantages of potential synergies between environmental agendas and incorporate the achievements of the KIP into the reporting of compliance of the country with nationally determined contributions (NDC).  

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES 

In this regard, the National Expert - Environmental Standards and Climate Action will work closely with the National Ozone Officer, the KIP Coordinator, and the National Ozone Unit team to support the KIP and Energy Efficiency Strategy projects implementation.  He / She will specifically be expected to: 

1. To supply managerial support for the planning and implementation of the updating and/or elaboration of Energy Efficiency and other relevant environmental standards to align the proposed standards with the activities conducted by the NOU to comply with the phasing-down of HFCs.

•  Follow up the ongoing projects regarding MEPS as part of the Energy Efficiency Strategy approved by MLF, taking into account: compliance of consultants with the established schedule for each project, necessary resources, stakeholders, support the necessary institutional arrangements and deliverables.
• Identify other relevant environmental standards being implemented in the country where possible alignment with HFC phase-down goals can be obtained and promote the inclusion of such considerations in the proposed standards. 
• Monitor the annual national standardization plan to identify potential areas where the HFC phase-down can contribute to climate action.
• Identify relevant stakeholders with whom to establish coordination in the development of standards.
• Participate in the relevant working groups put in place for the updating and elaboration of standards.
• Follow up on the administrative processes required for the standards to be published.
• Hold meetings with relevant stakeholders (government, associations, industry, etc.).
• Maintain institutional relations with EE authorities.

2. To contribute to better harmonizing the activities included in the Kigali Implementation Plan with broader climate action efforts in the country to promote synergies between national efforts, particularly regarding the strengthening of standards: 

• Identify other relevant environmental standards being implemented in the country where possible alignment with HFC phase-down goals can be obtained and promote the inclusion of such considerations in the proposed standards. 
• Monitor the annual national standardization plan in order to identify potential areas where HFC phase-down can contribute to climate action.
• Identify relevant stakeholders with whom to establish coordination in the development of standards.
• Participate in the relevant working groups put in place for the updating and elaboration of standards.
• Follow up on the administrative processes required for the standards to be published.
• Hold meetings with relevant stakeholders (government, associations, industry, etc.).
• Maintain institutional relations with EE authorities.

        
3. To strengthen the collaboration of the NOU team with other areas in the federal government of Mexico contributing to climate action, as guided by the goal of achieving the National Determined Contributions (NDC) committed under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

• Contribute to the identification of contributions resulting from HFC phase-down to NDC and to keep permanent communication with climate action areas in the Secretariat of Environment to answer requests regarding such information.
• Technical support for the actions/projects related to HFC-phase down in the framework of complementary funds other than MLF. E.g., Paris Agreement, financial instruments, etc.    

Reporting:

The consultant will be under the direct supervision of the National Ozone Officer (NOO) of Mexico, in coordination with the UNIDO Project Manager.  In line with UNIDO and donor requirements and templates, the consultant will have to prepare and submit the following reports and documents: 

• Reports 

        1. Provide periodical updates to the NOU, through in-person and virtual meetings. 
        2. Contribute to the preparation of progress reports to the donor. 
        3. Produce Back to Office Mission Report (BTOMR) for each travel conducted under the project. 
        4. At the conclusion of the assignment the consultant shall submit a final report comprising of a summary of activities carried out with all deliverables attached prepared within the scope of his/her assignment. 

The final report and related documents must be in English, presented in electronic format and submitted to the UNIDO project manager.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education:

Advanced university (Master´s level) degree in sciences, engineering, environmental sciences or environmental management is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• Minimum 3 years of experience in the design, implementation, and evaluation of environmental projects, including international projects, is required. 
• Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience coordinating the updating of existing mandatory (“Normas Oficiales Mexicanas”) or voluntary standards and/or putting together of new standards for environmental performance in different industrial and service sectors, is required. 
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in the design of registries and /or surveys relevant to the measurement of reductions of greenhouse gas emissions as part of climate change mitigation, is required.
• Knowledge of MLF decisions and platform, document reports and tranche submissions is desirable.
• Knowledge on issues of ozone-depleting substances, causes and effects generated by the depletion of the ozone layer as well as causes and effects of global warming is desirable.
• Excellent report writing and communication skills are required.

Languages:

Spanish and working knowledge of English are required. 

REQUIRED VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

Core Values

WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key Competencies

WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.