Maseru – Lesotho is intensifying efforts to fight climate change through environmentally friendly cooling systems, the Minister of Environment and Forestry,Letsema Adont’si announced during the World Ozone Day commemoration held at Victory Hall, Maseru, on Saturday.
The Minister said the government has adopted a National Cooling Action Plan (NCAP) that aims to promote access to sustainable cooling while reducing emissions from harmful refrigerants.
“One of the main causes of global warming is the use of cooling systems that rely on refrigerants harmful to the environment,” he said. “We must improve access to sustainable cooling for all Basotho while promoting energy efficiency and climate-friendly technologies.”
The plan forms part of Lesotho’s commitments under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which seeks to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)—gases widely used in air conditioning and refrigeration that contribute to global warming.
Lesotho is also implementing the Hydrochlorofluorocarbon Phase-Out Management Plan (HPMP) to regulate gases that destroy the ozone layer. Under this project, the Ministry has introduced new training and certification programmes for refrigeration and air-conditioning technicians in partnership with local institutions such as Lerotholi Polytechnic, Thaba-Tseka Technical Institute, and Leloaleng Technical School.
“We are investing in our people—the technicians who make climate protection possible at household level,” the Minister said.
In addition, the Ministry is working with the Revenue Service Lesotho (RSL) to control illegal imports of banned substances, and more than 100 customs officers and 67 technicians have been trained under the Green Cooling Initiative supported by UNEP, UNIDO, and GIZ Proklima.
Environmental analysts say the new cooling plan places Lesotho among regional leaders in sustainable climate action and reflects growing national awareness that protecting the ozone layer also means protecting livelihoods.
“By taking charge of our cooling systems, we are taking charge of our future,” the Minister concluded.
