In 2016, the adoption of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol marked a historic milestone in global climate policy. By committing countries worldwide to progressively phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), the international community set a clear course towards more sustainable cooling solutions.
Ten years later, the Kigali Amendment has proven to be a powerful catalyst for change. Across Europe and beyond, the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump (RACHP) sector has embraced the transition towards lower-GWP refrigerants, while manufacturers have brought innovative technologies to the market and policymakers have strengthened regulatory frameworks. The European Union has been at the forefront of this transformation through its F-gas legislation, which translates the objectives of Kigali into concrete measures and ambitious phase-down schedules.
However, as we reflect on a decade of progress, it is becoming increasingly clear that legislation alone does not deliver results. The success of the Kigali Amendment will ultimately depend on how effectively it is implemented on the ground. For AREA, representing refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump contractors across Europe, the next phase of the transition is about ensuring that the workforce responsible for installing, maintaining, servicing and replacing equipment has the skills, knowledge and certification required to make the transition a success.
Contractors at the Heart of the Transition
The RACHP sector plays a unique role in delivering climate objectives. While policymakers establish regulatory frameworks and manufacturers develop innovative technologies, contractors transform these ambitions into reality. They are responsible for selecting, installing and maintaining equipment that ensures safe operation, optimal energy efficiency and minimal environmental impact throughout the system’s lifetime.
This role is becoming increasingly complex. The transition away from conventional HFCs has accelerated the adoption of refrigerants with significantly lower global warming potential, including natural refrigerants such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), ammonia and hydrocarbons, as well as new synthetic alternatives. Many of these solutions bring important environmental benefits, but they also require different installation practices, specialised technical knowledge and enhanced safety procedures.
As the market evolves, contractors are expected to master a growing range of technologies while ensuring compliance with increasingly demanding regulatory requirements. The quality of their work directly influences safety, energy performance, refrigerant containment and overall environmental outcomes. In this context, investing in skills and competence is fundamental to achieving the objectives of the Kigali Amendment.
Skills as the Missing Link
One of the greatest challenges facing the sector today is the widening gap between the deployment of new technologies and the availability of appropriately trained technicians.
Europe already has a substantial workforce of F-gas-certified technicians. However, certification obtained under previous regulatory frameworks does not automatically guarantee competence in handling the latest generation of refrigerants and equipment. Many of the alternatives entering the market involve flammable, mildly flammable or high-pressure refrigerants that require additional expertise and specific safety measures.
Without adequate training, the transition could face significant obstacles. Improper installation or servicing may compromise safety, reduce energy efficiency, shorten equipment lifetimes and undermine environmental performance. In parallel, a shortage of qualified technicians could slow the deployment of sustainable cooling technologies and heat pumps at a time when Europe is striving to accelerate decarbonisation.
The challenge is therefore not simply one of numbers. It is about ensuring that technicians possess the right skills to work safely and competently with modern refrigerants and systems. This requires continuous professional development, updated curricula and accessible training opportunities throughout Europe.
A New Framework for Training and Certification
Recognising these challenges, the revised EU F-gas Regulation introduced a stronger focus on skills and competence. A key element of this framework is Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2215, which updates the minimum requirements for the certification of natural persons and companies undertaking activities involving fluorinated greenhouse gases and alternative refrigerants.
The implementing act is far more than a technical update. It provides the foundations for a workforce capable of supporting the transition towards sustainable cooling.
For AREA, the importance of this legislation cannot be overstated. The implementing act establishes a common baseline across Europe and helps ensure that technicians develop the competencies needed to handle low-GWP refrigerants safely and effectively. At a time when the sector is undergoing profound technological change, harmonised training requirements are essential to maintain high standards and facilitate mobility across Member States.
However, the existence of legislation alone is not enough. Its value will depend entirely on effective implementation.
The Crucial Role of Member States
The responsibility for establishing and operating certification schemes ultimately rests with Member States. National authorities must transpose European requirements into practical systems that allow technicians and companies to obtain the necessary qualifications and maintain their competence over time.
This makes implementation the critical success factor for the coming decade.
Some countries have already demonstrated what effective implementation can achieve. The Netherlands, for example, has developed a comprehensive certification framework covering both technicians and companies. In anticipation of the new framework, the Dutch refrigeration sector, government authorities, certification bodies and training providers have worked together to develop and implement new certification schemes. These schemes encompass fluorinated refrigerants as well as alternative refrigerants such as hydrocarbons, CO₂ and ammonia. Significant investments have been made in developing new examinations, training installations and other materials, and certification procedures. To support workforce readiness, the Dutch association NVKL has also developed an online learning platform that enables technicians to prepare for the theoretical certification examinations through dedicated learning modules covering refrigerants, legislation and safety requirements. As a result of these efforts, the new certification schemes are now in effect in the Netherlands, thereby providing the framework for safe and competent handling of both F-gas systems and those containing alternative refrigerants. This illustrates how early preparation and close cooperation between industry and government can facilitate the practical implementation of the revised F-gas framework. Such approaches help create a culture of competence, accountability and continuous improvement while providing confidence to customers and authorities alike.
At the same time, implementation remains uneven across Europe. Differences in training capacity, certification structures and enforcement practices can create inconsistencies that risk undermining the objectives of the legislation. A fragmented approach may also create barriers for companies operating across borders and complicate the development of a truly skilled European workforce.
AREA therefore encourages all Member States to ensure timely and effective implementation of the updated certification requirements, while working closely with training providers, contractors, manufacturers and industry associations.
Addressing the Skills Shortage
The success of the cooling transition also depends on attracting new talent into the profession.
The RACHP sector is experiencing increasing demand driven by the growing need for sustainable cooling, electrification and heat pump deployment. At the same time, many countries face ageing workforces and difficulties recruiting young people into technical professions.
Addressing this challenge requires a long-term strategy that combines vocational education, apprenticeship programmes, continuous training and awareness-raising initiatives. The sector must promote itself as an attractive and future-oriented career path offering stable employment, technological innovation and a direct contribution to climate objectives.
Investment in training infrastructure is equally important. Training centres need access to modern equipment and qualified instructors capable of teaching the latest technologies. Public authorities should recognise skills development as a strategic component of climate policy and ensure that adequate funding mechanisms are available.
The green transition cannot succeed without the people who make it happen. It will be delivered by hundreds of thousands of skilled technicians working every day to install, service and maintain the systems on which modern society depends.
Ensuring their competence through robust certification systems, high-quality training and effective national implementation is therefore essential. The revised F-gas framework and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2215 provide the necessary foundation, but their success depends on the commitment of Member States, industry stakeholders and training organisations to make them work in practice.
Supporting Global Capacity Bulding
While the European Union has established one of the world’s most advanced regulatory frameworks for fluorinated gases, the transition to sustainable cooling is a global challenge that requires international cooperation. AREA actively promotes the transfer of the European approach to technician training, certification and good servicing practices, supporting developing countries—particularly those under Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol—in strengthening their national capacity and aligning with internationally recognised standards. One example of this commitment is AREA’s long-standing collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Programme, through which it contributed to the development of the Training Manual on Refrigerants, Servicing and Good Practices, which provides practical guidance on refrigerant management, leak prevention, recovery, safety and energy-efficient servicing. The manual serves as a practical resource for capacity-building activities and supports countries in developing competent workforces capable of implementing the Kigali Amendment effectively.
In parallel, AREA actively participates in international discussions under the Montreal Protocol, including the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) and the Meeting of the Parties (MOP), where it shares the European experience as an example of effective implementation of certification schemes, technician training and regulatory enforcement in the RACHP sector. By promoting the European model and exchanging practical experiences with policymakers, industry representatives and training organisations worldwide, AREA contributes to the development of robust national qualification systems and helps countries accelerate the transition towards safe, energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling technologies.
Conclusion
Ten years after Kigali, the direction of travel is clear. The challenge now is to ensure that Europe has the skilled workforce needed to complete the journey. By strengthening certification, accelerating training on alternative refrigerants and promoting consistent implementation across Member States, we can turn policy ambition into real-world progress and build a safer, more efficient and more sustainable cooling sector for the future.
Stepan Stojanov