Patrick McInerney Award Honors Ozone Leadership
A new award named for the late Australian climate official recognizes collaborative leadership in phasing down harmful refrigerants.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Awards
The Patrick McInerney Award was announced at the Thirty-Eighth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol. It is created in memory of the late Patrick McInerney PSM, with the endorsement of his family.
Why it matters
The award honors leadership in the global effort to phase down hydrofluorocarbons, a key part of the Montreal Protocol's ozone and climate work. It recognizes people who bring governments, industry, non-government organisations and scientists together.
The award marks a decade since McInerney's role in securing the Kigali Amendment, which the source ties to the Montreal Protocol's global phase-down work. Its first recipient is not expected to be named until the 2027 anniversary celebrations.
The players
Patrick McInerney PSM
A former Australian government director whose leadership helped secure the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.
Refrigerants Australia
An industry organization that contributed to the award's development and ongoing support.
Refrigerant Reclaim Australia
An organization that contributed to the award's development and ongoing support alongside Refrigerants Australia.
The details
Patrick McInerney served as a director in the Australian Government's Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Refrigerants Australia and Refrigerant Reclaim Australia contributed to the award's development and ongoing support, and discussions at MOP38 focused on phasing down HFCs, improving cooling efficiency and securing funding for developing countries.
Timeline
Award announced at the Thirty-Eighth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, reported November 5, 2026.
Inaugural recipient to be announced during the Montreal Protocol's 40th anniversary celebrations in 2027.
Legal Context
The award looks back ten years to McInerney's role in securing the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. It frames that amendment's HFC phase-down as the ongoing work the honor recognizes.
Industry members can nominate individuals who demonstrate collaborative leadership across governments, industry, non-government organisations and scientists. The award is designed to recognise practical problem-solving in the refrigerant phase-down.
The takeaway
Collaborative, practical problem-solving across governments, industry and scientists is what this award is built to recognize. Its first winner will be named at the Montreal Protocol's 40th anniversary in 2027.
What happens next
The inaugural Patrick McInerney Award recipient will be announced during the Montreal Protocol's 40th anniversary celebrations in 2027.
Further reading
Explore more awards and honors recognizing leaders in global environmental work.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Climatecontrolnews.
