Viraj Vithoontien is a senior environmental specialist at the World Bank and its leading technical specialist on ozone protection with climate benefits. He is currently the coordinator for the East Asia and Pacific Region portfolio of projects on the implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. He also serves as Task Team Leader of four active projects related to chemicals management and is the Bank’s lead technical negotiator related to financing ozone projects. Viraj holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University; a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Chulalonghorn University in Thailand. He has over 30 years of experience in the refrigeration and air conditioning sectors working at the international level in support of developing countries’ implementation of the Montreal Protocol, including 20 years with the World Bank. He is a recipient of numerous awards for his work related to ozone protection including from UNEP, the government of Thailand, the government of Vietnam, and the World Bank.