Lagos State government has said that access to sustainable cooling is an important part of environmental justice.

The General Manager of Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Dr Babatunde Ajayi stated this during a seminar to mark the 2026 World Ozone Day
themed, Global Action for a Cooler Planet: Celebrating Ten Years of Sustainable Cooling under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol organised by LASEPA in partnership with the Nigerian Association of Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Practitioners (NARAP).

Ajayi sought for a wider access to sustainable cooling and safer practices among refrigeration and air-conditioning technicians.
Ajayi also said environmental protection was directly linked to public health, stressing the need to pay attention to emissions from refrigeration and air-conditioning activities.
He said climate discussions would be incomplete without addressing the ozone layer and emissions from refrigeration and air-conditioning activities.

According to him, sustainable cooling should not only focus on reducing environmental impact but also on ensuring that cooling services are affordable and accessible to rural and underserved communities.
He described access to sustainable cooling as an important part of environmental justice, adding that environmental policies should be implemented in a way that benefits different sections of society.

Ajayi also highlighted the importance of global partnerships in advancing climate action, saying collaboration with organisations and development partners had supported the state’s environmental initiatives.

In her keynote address, the Director, Federal Controller of Environment, South-West Region, Mrs Olabimpe Adenaike Oladunni, said the protection of the ozone layer remained an important example of international environmental cooperation.

Oladunni said the ozone layer protects life on Earth by absorbing much of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation.
She said the transition to sustainable cooling required the adoption of low global warming potential refrigerants and energy efficient equipment.

According to her, Nigeria’s warm climate and increasing demand for refrigeration and air-conditioning make sustainable cooling particularly important.

She said the Federal Ministry of Environment, through the National Ozone Office, had been working with stakeholders, including refrigeration and air-conditioning practitioners, to promote good servicing practices, refrigerant management, leak prevention, recovery and recycling.
Oladunni also stressed the need for greater participation of women in the sector, noting that initiatives had been undertaken to train and empower female engineers in refrigeration and air-conditioning.

She said sustainable cooling was not simply about replacing one refrigerant with another, but involved building an energy efficient, environmentally responsible and inclusive cooling sector supported by competent professionals.

Speaking on occupational safety, a safety and health expert from MD BIMSUL Consultants, Mr Adeyinka Adebiyi, urged refrigeration and air-conditioning technicians to give greater attention to safety procedures while carrying out their jobs.

Adebiyi said technicians faced various workplace hazards, particularly when installing and maintaining air-conditioning systems at height.

He urged practitioners to assess hazards before starting work and use appropriate protective equipment.

He also highlighted the risks associated with brazing and other hot work activities, advising technicians to properly confine flames, keep fire extinguishers nearby and use protective equipment such as gloves and face shields.
Adebiyi further advised technicians to avoid working alone, stressing the importance of having someone nearby who could provide assistance in an emergency.

He said protecting the ozone layer and addressing climate change must go alongside protecting the health and safety of the people working in the cooling industry.

The speakers called for continued cooperation among government agencies, industry players, professional associations, development partners, manufacturers, academia and other stakeholders to promote sustainable cooling and ozone protection in Nigeria.