Some 3,000 Cuban technicians are being trained in alternative technologies and best practices in refrigeration as part of a national program to reduce and eliminate substances that deplete the Earth's ozone layer. The courses cover techniques related to soldering, commercial and household refrigeration, and the recovery and recycling of refrigerant substances.

The training program, which covers the entire island, is sponsored by the United Nations Development and Environment programs (UNDP and UNEP).

Coordinating the classes are the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment and the Ozone Technical Office, providing information about the depletion of this thin atmospheric layer that protects the planet from harmful ultraviolet radiation.