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The refrigeration and air conditioning sector is responsible for up to 10% of all global emissions. This is due to its huge energy consumption and the high global warming potential of many common refrigerants. At the same time the demand for cooling is rising steadily. The good news: the emissions can be reduced significantly by using Green Cooling technologies. Green Cooling is based on natural refrigerants and energy efficiency. This side event will show the significance of the cooling sector for mitigation and adaptation and present the available Green Cooling technologies.

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Join us for an engaging panel discussion on the future of the industry, where experts will explore innovations in sustainable cooling & natural refrigerants, and how training and capacity building initiatives can lead to a transformational impact. We'll address crucial questions such as: "What strategies can we implement to shape the future of the cooling industry?" and "How can engaging youth in training and capacity building programmes contribute to lasting, transformational change?"

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This event aims to spotlight the role of the private sector in leading the transition to natural refrigerants-based technologies that are ozone and climate friendly and efficient. The event will present case studies from influential companies on their journey to transition to green, efficient, and smart technologies. Panel discussions will explore challenges and opportunities in the value chains, key technology innovations, refrigerant choice, eco-design, upgrade of components, smart solutions, market uptake, awareness, and lifecycle management of products.

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The global demand for refrigeration and air conditioning continues to grow and with that the stock of appliances, foams and products containing substances with a high global warming potential. Some of them even contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. These so-called banks of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are often not being managed or disposed in an environmentally sound manner and emit substances equivalent to approximately 1.5 Gt CO2 each year.
This specific emission reduction potential has remained largely untapped up to now: The Climate and Ozone Protection Alliance (COPA) brings together actors to jointly work on urgently needed solutions for ODS and HFC banks. COPA supports member countries and partners in exploiting greenhouse gas emission reduction potential in ODS and HFC banks management, thereby making a significant contribution to achieving partner countries’ mitigation and nationally determined contributions (NDCs) targets and contributing to the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C increase. The focus of the side event is to highlight the potential of managing ODS and HFC banks.

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IIR | Sustainable air conditioning

Air conditioning is necessary for life in many countries and its use is dramatically increasing everywhere since it is also a tool for adaptation. That increase shall be sustainable, thanks to a responsible use as well as improved and new technologies.

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The refrigeration and air conditioning sector is responsible for up to 10% of all global emissions – and it is growing rapidly. The transition to Green Cooling technologies can decrease these emissions significantly. Consequently, it is pivotal to develop cooling sector specific mitigation targets and measures that are integrated in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).

Many countries that updated their NDCs have recognized the relevance of the cooling sector, and specifically the importance to mitigate Hydrofluorocarbon emissions. Even though, there is still a huge gap in terms of concrete measures and implementation strategies. Considering the importance and significant mitigation potential of the RAC sector for more ambitious and enhanced NDCs, this side event will provide guidance on how to appropriately cover the cooling sector in a NDC. Furthermore, it addresses the question how the ambition of cooling sector targets can be increased once the NDC is updated.

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This panel discussion will be a deep dive into Jordan's commitment to modernization and its holistic approach to climate and sustainability action, with a focus on sustainable cooling initiatives and the demand for clean energy. During this discussion, we aim to explore how a variety fo actors in Jordan are playing their part, and how sustainable cooling supports the country's future vision. Experts include high-level government representatives and organisations working towards sustainable development in Jordan.

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Cool Coalition | Data to Drive Sustainable Cooling For All

Cooling is one of the critical challenges in today's climate debate, significantly contributing to global warming. If left unchecked, emissions from cooling are projected to double by 2030 and triple by 2050 due to factors like heat waves, population growth, urbanisation, and a growing middle class. In order to maximise the benefits of cooling while minimising its climatic impact, the need for data to understand where we are- and where we need to get to - is a critical ask.
Convened by the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP-led Cool Coalition, and Sustainable Energy for All, this side event aims to highlight the need for data - and gaps therein - that are critical to transition towards sustainable cooling. It will focus on showcasing tools and methods for tracking and improving the implementation of cooling targets. The event will also discuss ways to enhance capacity building at the national and subnational levels to bridge data gaps. Participants will have the opportunity to share perspectives on data-driven solutions for sustainable cooling. The side event will also showcase current data collection processes and datasets being used to address the cooling challenge effectively.

14:00 - 15:00

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This event will spotlight the journey in past three decades in eliminating ozone depleting and global warming substances that resulted in the ozone layer recovery and significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Participants from the government representatives, the Ozone Secretariat, members of the Executive Committee and the Secretariat of the Multilateral Fund, implementing agencies and civil society organizations will present achievements, experiences, and next steps on the HFC phase-down under the Kigali Amendment and related energy efficiency actions. Discussions will aim to reinforce the role of the Montreal Protocol and sustainable cooling in advancing green transition towards the goals of the Paris Agreement.

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In this event, experts from ATMOsphere and its network will explore heating and cooling solutions based on natural refrigerants as truly future proof technologies that can be adopted worldwide, elaborating on the latest regulatory efforts tackling fluorinated substances.

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CLASP | Pathways to Prevent the Dumping of Inefficient Appliances with Obsolete Refrigerants

The ongoing, widespread sale of less efficient appliances, many with obsolete refrigerants, across the world is a severe threat. This “appliance dumping” exacerbates climate change, strains energy grids, and increases energy costs for consumers. However, there are actionable solutions to prevent this.
Join CLASP at the Cooling Pavilion at COP28 for a solution-focused dialogue, showcasing proven best practice, including policy and trade interventions, that managed to resolve this. This event will show how these interventions rolled out globally could reduce billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions over 25 years and slash consumers energy bills. A win for people and the planet!

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In developing countries, there are a need to develop a sustainable and reliable cold chain for the healthcare products and services to improve quality of life through better treatments and working conditions. The medical cold chain contributes around 1% of global GHG emissions (with both direct and indirect emissions), the presentations will present solutions to reduce the energy emissions and consumption of medical cooling systems with better utilisations.

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Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI), an innovative yet controversial approach to mitigating climate change. This event will explore the science behind SAI, a method that suggests releasing aerosols into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight away from Earth, potentially cooling the planet. Experts in atmospheric and climate science, policy-makers and representatives of NGOs will discuss the feasibility, risks, and implications of implementing such a technology. This event will aim to provide a rounded understanding of SAI, and whether it has a role in our fight against global warming.

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Join us for an event focused on the critical intersection of health and cooling, featuring speakers from leading global organisations. We'll address the problem of how access to cooling is vital for health and well-being, especially in hot climates, and how traditional cooling systems can contribute to environmental issues. We'll explore how sustainable cooling, including the use of natural refrigerants, can offer solutions to these challenges and create a healthier and more environmentally friendly future.

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Join us as we provide insights into the key messages and lessons learned from developing National Cooling Action Plans (NCAPs) supported by UNDP and Cool Up. We'll offer an overview of NCAP preparation, including on the topic of financing, in MENA region countries and take a closer look at the progress in Türkiye. Furthermore, we've set aside time for National Ozone Units to share their valuable perspectives.

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Cooling demand is soaring globally, but even more so in high ambient temperature environments. Rising living standards in developing countries are one major factor, but rising temperatures will also turn more countries into high ambient temperature environments. Extreme temperatures and increased cooling demand resulting in increased greenhouse gas emissions are a vicious cycle.
Products and technologies have evolved in the past decades, bringing higher efficiencies but also demanding more awareness and understanding for technical requirements to cope with extreme temperatures. The industry has invested substantial funds in research and development, motivated not least by higher regulatory requirements around the world. To elaborate where the technical development stands and where it falls short, but more importantly to know the reasons of shortfalls and identify possible measures to help more efficient technology to enter and dominate markets, representatives of the manufacturing sector and government representatives from West Asia (Ministries of Environment/National Ozone Units), will discuss how the technical evolution is gaining traction against challenges arising from missing regulatory frameworks, lack of knowledge and shortfalls in technical skills in the servicing sector.

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Cool Coalition | Financing Action on Cooling

One of the challenges to achieve a sustainable transformation of the refrigeration and air conditioning sector is the provision and effective deployment of finance to enable a widespread uptake of Green Cooling. As a significant portion of the target audience lacks the financial means for upfront investment, financial solutions are needed to access sustainable cooling. Financial institutions can play a pivotal role by bridging the gap by offering financial products, such as green loans, that enable customers to acquire and install Green Cooling appliances without a burdensome initial payment. Such approaches can accelerate the transition to Green Cooling by making it more accessible and affordable.

The UNEP and UNEP-led Cool Coalition event will showcase established business models and financial mechanisms, delving into the roles of various stakeholders. Discussions will centre on developing and implementing effective sustainable market-based financial mechanisms. The objective is to highlight the advantages of such mechanisms in driving sustainable market transformation. The event aims to unite stakeholders in the finance sector to collaboratively shape and advance the cooling market transformation.    

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About 30% of global energy is consumed in the agricultural and food sector Primary agriculture consumes only about 20%, whilst food processing including transport uses around 40%, and thereby significantly contributes to global energy consumption along agricultural value chains (FAO).
This event will showcase why financing is critical to make this transition a reality and what is needed to do so. Rabobank – a global F&A bank - together with leasing angle DLL and the GFCC will go in conversation with various stakeholders in the food value chain as well as solution providers.

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UNIDO | Challenges and Opportunities for Women in the HVAC&R Industry

The primary goal of this side event is to share the contributions made by UNIDO in supporting Egypt towards enhancing efforts for gender equality. It aims to showcase the work done in Egypt for women in the RAC industry and inspire People and culture teams in other A5 countries. This is crucial as we strive to create more opportunities for women in various roles.

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UNEP OzonAction | “You can’t be what you can’t see” – What can INWIC do for Women in Cooling?

The Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning, and Heat-pumps (RACHP) sector is fast expanding: the need for equipment is increasing as well as the need for more qualified RACHP professionals all over the world. Additionally, the cooling sector is critical for meeting climate targets by reducing direct and indirect emissions of greenhouse gases used as refrigerants, including HFCs and HCFCs. Over 15 million people are employed worldwide in the refrigeration sector, which means that almost 5 out of 1000 people have a job linked to the manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and servicing of refrigeration equipment. Women are highly under-represented in this sector as indicated by the fact that only 6% of the members of national refrigeration associations/organisations/institutions are women. The side event will shed light to the efforts and activities done by the Montreal Protocol stakeholders and partners to advance the engagement and representation of women in the RACHP sector, including through the International Network of Women in Cooling (INWIC) a networking, educational and mentoring platform. A professional and skilled cooling workforce that includes both women and men can contribute significantly to climate change mitigation efforts.

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This event will highlight the importance of cooling sector in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA region), discuss challenges and progress in technology choice, priorities of the governments in the transition, including sector roadmap and emission reduction opportunities through lifecycle management of refrigerants. Representatives from the governments in MENA region and experts from industries and financial institutions will share insights on the pathway to sustainable cooling. The programme will also highlight progress through Cool Up programme, innovative financial instruments and policies that can accelerate the green transition.

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Join Cool Up and United for Efficiency (U4E) as we explore the intersection of regulation and financing with experts touching on topics such as existing regulatory and financing mechanisms for sustainable cooling, implementation of model regulations for sustainable cooling, how regulation paves the way for financing the sustainable cooling transition, and more.

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In this brief talk, Marc Chasserot, CEO at ATMOsphere will report on heating and cooling solutions based on natural refrigerants as truly future proof technologies that can be adopted worldwide, elaborating on the latest regulatory efforts tackling fluorinated substances.

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As a pioneer in responsible refrigeration with the recovery and recycling of fluorinated greenhouse gases in Europe, the concept of a circular economy constitutes the very essence of our work. Since the implementation of the recovery system, more than 30 million tons of CO2 equivalent have been avoided by our action in Europe (CITEPA source). And today, 75% of fluorinated GHG waste are revalorised. The advancement of fluid technologies requires to adapt the current methods to better meet the needs of the market. The complexity of new blends (multi-component fluids) (hydrocarbons, CO2, HFO, etc.), the criterion of flammability, high pressure, etc. are all challenges that require new technologies.

To meet the challenges of the environmental objectives towards decarbonisation and carbon neutrality in 2030 Climalife provides used refrigerant management solutions for all fluorinated gases (CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, HFOs, SF6), including blends (recovery, reclamation, destruction). With this in mind, Climalife has developed the R4F-GAS and LIFE@F-Gases projects in collaboration with European research centers and universities. This new treatment system is capable of separate molecules of waste mixtures of F-Gases. This unique treatment method promotes the reuse of substances that have been brought up to standard, either on their own or as part of a low-GWP mixture, thereby promoting a circular economy for the health, and HVACR industries.
R4F-GAS and LIFE@F-Gases are an industrial-scale process for separating, the molecules present in a mixture of collected waste comprising at least one fluorinated fluid, i.e. present in a fluorinated gas. Thus, R4F-GAS and LIFE@F-Gases projects are a Climalife Patent (patent n° FR2010422) for an innovative treatment system for fluorinated greenhouse gases. It consists of recovery, treatment and reuse in a circular economy logic. The possibility of putting reclaimed fluorinated gases back on the market is therefore all the more important to limit the production and import of virgin F-gases, thus limiting the associated direct and indirect CO2 emissions. With this new technology, we now have all the solutions we need to manage the life cycle of fluorinated greenhouse gases.

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The demand for cooling is expected to rise exponentially with a growing population, urbanization and economic growth where more people get access to cooling.

This will put pressure on the grid (peak electricity), while moving towards variable renewable energies and – mostly flammable – lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants. District cooling offers multiple benefits. It is highly efficient, consumes less energy and produces less emissions. Thermal storage capacities enable flexibility to cater for renewables and address peaks. Centralized plants facilitate refrigerant management and a move towards low GWP refrigerants. From an urban planning perspective, it avoids heat islands, noise and space requirements. So why is district cooling not more broadly deployed? At this high-level round table, we will discuss about the opportunities offered by district cooling, technologies enabling deployment, existing barriers and how to address them.

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UNIDO | Residential and Commercial Air Conditioning, Providing Energy Efficient Soultions 

The main objective of this side event is to discuss UNIDO's role in supporting Egypt to convert the use of high global warming refrigerants to low global warming refrigerants in the domestic and commercial AC sectors. Additionally, the event aims to share the results of Egypt's efforts in this conversion with other developing countries as a source of inspiration. 

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GFCCC | The Cool Move! Cold Chain Investments in Emerging Markets to Reduce Food Loss and Waste

Cold storage is virtually non-existent in rural areas in the global south. A key issue is that agriculture in these regions is characterized by the distributed supply of 500 million smallholder farmers. This poses challenges with regards to technology, knowledge and investment capacity. Next to that, this lack of access to cold storage capacity generally affects the quality and quantity of produce and increases post-harvest losses.

This cold chain event will focus on promoting the development of cold chain solutions (both accessibility and utilisation) in rural areas, based on bankable and scalable business models and backed by market linkages and data.

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An interactive space will be opened for the exchange, debate and learning towards sustainable financing of urban mobility systems that work for all and contribute to tackle climate change. Various financing mechanisms will be discussed and analyzed in view of the urgent and challenging scenarios faced by developing countries. A panel discussion will serve to deliberate and feed into the “Training manual on opportunities for innovative and synergistic financing mechanisms in the transport sector” developed under the Green Climate Fund readiness programme “Low-carbon Transportation Development in the Sultanate of Oman”. The event will also stimulate the dialogue around ambitious ideas and their potential implementation pathway, including those related to e-mobility, and sustainable cold chains for the fisheries sector.

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Policy-makers increasingly make use of MEPS to increase efficiencies of products placed on the market. The industry itself has for a long time made use of voluntary third-party certification programmes to allow a product-by-product comparison and very its claims of product performances. Independent verification of efficiencies are basis for energy labelling, calculation of the total cost of ownership, and provide much needed transparency and objectivity.
But products are only one part of a wider value chain. The most efficient product will not deliver its designed performance if not used, installed, operated, and maintained correctly. New technologies, connectivity, smart components, as well as alternative refrigerants all require a new set of knowledge and skills to be used efficiently.

Given the strategic importance of energy efficiency and the impact of the whole value chain on it, education and training of everyone involved becomes apparent. Minimum requirements should be not only applied to products, but also to people and organisations which are part of the value chain. Certification of professionals as well as certification of companies, buildings, and facilities need to be considered.

In this panel discussion, experts from industry, associations, and governmental organisations will talk about the lack of education, requirements for industry professionals, and the need for certification for products and individuals under voluntary as well as mandated schemes.

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Worldwide, 13% of food is lost due to lack of a cold chain, enough to feed 950m people. In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, 70% - or more than 400 M tons – of annual post-harvest food losses are due to an inadequate or non-existent cold chain. However, according to research by the International Institute of Refrigeration, food loss and emissions could be halved globally with sustainable, state of the art refrigeration technology, using lower GWP refrigerants and energy efficient equipment. A sustainable cold chain has multiple benefits: It addresses malnourishment, supports food security, and improves public health while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and addressing water scarcity. At this high-level roundtable, we will present concrete projects that support the deployment of a sustainable cold chain in Africa. We will discuss barriers such as lack of skills and access to energy efficient equipment, as well as opportunities coming with new business models and readily available technologies.

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Join us for an exciting event featuring an introduction to the Build_ME project and their pioneering work on Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), followed by a panel discussion with regional experts. We will explore the critical relevance of energy efficiency in the building sector, the pivotal role of EPCs, and their profound impact on cooling solutions in the built environment. Don't miss this insightful conversation on sustainable building practices and climate mitigation strategies.

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UNIDO | Mitigating Climate Change by Phasing Down F-Refrigerants with High Global Warming Potentials  

The objective of this side event is to discuss the connection and synergy between the Montreal Protocol, which regulates the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances, and the Paris Agreement, which aims to control emissions of a range of greenhouse gases, including HFCs and PFCs that can replace some ozone-depleting substances but are also potent greenhouse gases. The goal is to explore how the two agreements can work together to achieve their common goals.

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Danfoss | Decarbonizing Industry: A Three-step Approach with the World's Larget Untapped Energy Source

Numerous countries around the globe have committed to carbon neutrality within the next decades. A sizable piece of this puzzle will involve solving for the cooling challenge. Recent research reveals that the cooling sector can reach a near-zero scenario by 2050 but will require all hands on deck: Governments, industry, consumers, and civil society. The UAE Global Cooling Pledge, announced on 5 December 2023, seeks to steer leadership in this direction and mainstream the need for sustainable cooling. At this high-level session, we aim to discuss industry support to the Global Cooling Pledge, and what that looks like in action – what are the challenges, and ways forward, to ensure that the commitments made do lead us to a world that has transitioned – and enabled access – to a sustainable cooling ecosystem. We will provide hands-on examples of technologies, opportunities for industry and barriers that still need to be addressed.

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Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning, and Heat Pump (RACHP) equipment plays a major role in the society today and the need for its use is constantly increasing. Improving energy efficiency has a significant impact on the cost to own and operate these devices. Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and energy labels, if well-designed and implemented, are powerful tools for market transformation towards more efficient equipment, resulting in energy savings. However, even the most efficient equipment needs to be properly installed, operated, maintained, and serviced for MEPS to achieve their full potential. The Montreal Protocol has a proven record of training servicing sector technicians in developing countries, with over 262,000 technicians trained so far through the Multilateral Fund–supported projects. Therefore, the training and certification process under the Montreal Protocol presents a great, untapped opportunity to address energy efficiency considerations in the servicing sector, to ensure and augment benefits of energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling and refrigeration and support MEPS.

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The Montreal Protocol has been pivotal in phasing out ozone depleting substances (ODS), used as refrigerants in various applications like air-conditioning, refrigeration, foams, and fire extinguishers. However, the existing ODS banks, defined as the total amounts of these substances still contained in equipment, stockpiles, and products not yet released into the atmosphere, represent significant, hidden climate challenge, because many of ODS are also potent greenhouse gases.

This event will explore the magnitude of this threat and discuss effective strategies for managing and destroying the banks to prevent their leakage into the atmosphere. Solutions include life cycle refrigerant management, Recovery, Reclamation and Recycling, and safe destruction. Managing ODS banks can generate valuable carbon offset credits under the Paris Agreement through national and voluntary carbon trading mechanisms. The issue of the transboundary movement of ODS under the Basel Convention will be also considered. 

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Select group of country representatives at Minister and senior leadership level, leading in the cooling space to engage in dialogue and provide their “soundbites” on how they are acting on these three fronts and delivering on the Montreal Protocol/Kigali Amendment, Paris Agreement and the Global 2030 Agenda. The event will put a bright spotlight on the issue of cooling and an integrated approach needed to implement effectively the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol and the Global Cooling Pledge that in addition HFC and energy efficiency puts emphasis on passive cooling and nature-based solutions as well as access to cooling to all.

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Ozone Secretariat, Cool Coalition and CCAC | Cooling for Climate Action: Your Ministers’ Cool Soundbites, High-Level Event (Shared Presentation Stage 3, B7, Bld 88)

COP28 is a critical moment for action on cooling.  Recognizing the adaptation and mitigation benefits of cooling, the COP28 UAE Presidency has championed a Global Cooling Pledge with over 65 country signatories to date, which intends to raise ambition and international cooperation on cooling through collective targets for reducing emissions, improving energy efficiency and climate-friendly approaches to cooling and significantly increase access to sustainable cooling. The new UNEP report Global Cooling Watch launched at COP28 shows that countries can reduce emissions from cooling by over 60% while meeting growing cooling needs and creating significant economic benefits through integrated and accelerated policy action on passive cooling, energy efficiency, and the fast phase-down of HFCs.

We are inviting a select group of country representatives at Minister and senior leadership level, leading in the cooling space to engage in dialogue and provide their “soundbites” on how they are acting on these three fronts and delivering on the Montreal Protocol/Kigali Amendment, Paris Agreement and the Global 2030 Agenda.

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CEEW | Clean Cooling for All: Technology Cooperation Lessons, Challenges and Opportunities Linked to the Clean Cooling Transition

There is spotlight on cooling at COP28 for a good reason: Cooling applications contribute about 7% to GHG emissions, and the rising demand and use of incumbent technologies, the share will rise to 20% of GHG emissions by 2050. By switching to clean cooling technologies, their emissions will decrease significantly, as well as increase opportunities to provide access to affordable and sustainable cooling solutions to all.

Clean cooling technology options are available — just not accessible or affordable everywhere, especially within low-income countries. The expected high demand for cooling in coming years from markets like India makes it imperative that new cooling technologies are introduced in appropriate places. This will prepare the ecosystem for commercial deployment of technology in the short run, and in the long run help countries meet commitments under the Kigali Amendment to Montreal Protocol and Paris Agreement on Climate Change. 

Bilateral and multilateral technology cooperation becomes critical to accelerate transition to sustainable and clean cooling. In this context, Future Refrigeration India (INDEE+) is an Indian Norwegian bilateral environmental cooperation project that aims to demonstrate eco-friendly cooling systems applying natural refrigerants (such as: ammonia, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbons) to promote a clean, sustainable, and reliable heating and cooling solutions for the future heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration sector in India.

This side event will use the opportunity to inform and showcase the progress made under the INDEE+ project, plans to expand the programme, challenges faced in demonstration projects and lessons learnt for further deployment. It will convene the leading practitioners and researchers in sustainable cooling to understand how bilateral cooperation and collaborative R&D, knowledge transfer, technology development and deployment can be achieved to enable access to clean cooling system solutions for all. 

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IIR | Empowering Youth in Cooling and Building of Local Skills

The refrigeration sector is fast expanding: we need more and more equipment and applications therefore we need more qualified people all over the world. There is a need to make the importance of the refrigeration and building industry more visible to the general public and particularly to the younger generation for a brighter and sustainable future.

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Every year, an estimated 14 percent of total food produced is lost in the field, and 17 percent is wasted at the point of retail or consumption. This is enough food to feed approximately 1 billion hungry people around the world. At the same time, the rotting groceries lead to considerable amounts of methane emissions. This side event will address challenges and discuss solutions to reduce food loss and waste taking into account the greenhouse gas mitigation potential.
One major solution to food loss and waste is increasing access to refrigeration, ensuring that food is kept at suitable temperature conditions from harvest to plate. The experts will highlight the use of sustainable cold chains in the Global South with natural refrigerants, combining energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.

Scaling up future-friendly cold chain infrastructure supports the implementation of both the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol and the Paris Agreement. The side event is organized by GIZ in cooperation with the German Environment Agency (tbc).

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EIA | Accelerating the HFC phasedown: Examples and Lessons Learned

The event orgnanized by the Environmental Investigation Agency will disucss how additional greenhouse gas emissions through the ozone treaty can be secured.

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10 new Air-conditioners (ACs) are being sold every second for the next 30 years. If not addressed, energy demand from ACs will more than triple by 2050, equal to China’s electricity demand today (IEA 2018). Split ACs represent the largest growing sub-sector. At the same time, they are responsible for the largest share of energy, of HCFC and HFC consumption and therefore of CO2-eq emissions. 

The event will present “Green” split ACs using the natural refrigerant R290 and being very energy efficient. R290 is ozone, climate and environmentally friendly: compared to synthetic refrigerants (F-gases and PFAS), it has a very low global warming potential and no toxic breakdown products. Those “Green” ACs exist but are introduced only slowly. However, the world would benefit from their spread as they have a huge mitigation potential at very low costs: It is estimated that highly energy efficient ACs using R290 can reduce global warming by up to 0.2 degrees Celsius.

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Join us for the launch of Cool Up's second edition of the MENA Region Cooling Status Report. This event will give a sneak peek into the report which is centered around the question "Where are MENA and Türkiye in the transition to sustainable cooling?". We will hear from report contributors as to why the MENA region is gaining increasing importance in international climate action, and how sustainable cooling can play a significant role in achieving international climate goals.

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Teaching young people about ozone layer and climate protection need not be dull. The dynamic, fun and interactive education materials for Reset Earth especially tailored for 7-12 and 13-18-year-olds feature teacher and student resources, mobile game app, videos and a simulator game. All free to download and use! Come and take a sneak peek. Look and hear for yourself from teachers and students. Plus, we'll be announcung the winners of our photography competition!  

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Fluorinated gases (F-gases), mainly used as refrigerants in the HVARC sector, have a high environmental impact, contributing to global warming potential.
Today, it is crucial to put in place a comprehensive life-cycle management plan for refrigerants, taking into account
- The choice of refrigerant to achieve the best energy efficiency of a thermodynamic installation over its entire lifespan
- Minimising leaks
- Refrigerant recovery, recycling and regeneration with a view to reuse
- Destruction of gases at end-of-life.
This comprehensive management will help to prevent the environmental impact caused by the emission of refrigerant gases and to accelerate the achievement of progressive emission reduction targets.

Climalife has anticipated and fully integrated environmental responsibility at the heart of its innovations , offering solutions for the equipment life management and for the waste management of all types of fluorinated gases (CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, HFOs, SF6), including blends (recovery, reclamation, destruction). To make better use of waste, Climalife has patented new solutions for the separation of molecules, including distillation, to meet the needs of various industries, including refrigeration applications, aerosol propellants, SF6, extinguishing agents and .....

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IIR has a number of ongoing refrigeration projects in high and low-income countries. The event will demonstrate and promote the adoption of efficient and climate-friendly cold chain, air-conditioners and refrigeration technologies for food and healthcare sectors. Solutions to meet SDG reducing emissions both from the refrigeration equipment, food loss and waste.

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Food loss and waste is a challenge that jeopardises global food security as well as our social, economic and environmental goals. Globally, 12% of food produced annually is lost due to a lack of proper temperature management.

The focus of work to date on the role of cold-chains in the food-water-energy-social nexus and low-income countries has been primarily on chilled temperatures (above 0°C, normally in the range of 2-8°C). Food freezing, as a form of preservation, extends product shelf life for months while also offering built-in opportunities to optimise utilisation through scheduled consumption.

But frozen foods comes a significant energy and GHG emissions challenge to the success of a transition to sustainable cold-chains: it is energy intensive to freeze foods and hold them at a sub-zero temperature. At the core of this challenge is the sub-zero temperature at which stationary and mobile refrigeration systems are required to be set (the ‘set-point’) for handling frozen products. Currently the industry standard set-point is -18°C: a temperature established in the mid-20th Century. Some in the industry think a standard set-point of -15°C would be more appropriate for certain food products and that a requirement to not ‘over-freeze’ could be introduced - without any negative impacts on food safety or quality. This could be valuable in the context of reducing the increase in energy demand and GHG emissions from the sector.

To date, there hasn’t been a comprehensive global study that evaluates the potential opportunity to change this set point for the cold chain - not just by calculating the energy efficiency wins, but also understanding fully the food safety and quality implications, as well as the risks and impacts on industry. And when considering the food system of the future and developing its infrastructure and technology strategies, we must undertake an inclusive review including the low-income - but food system critical - regions of the world, such as sub-Saharan Africa,. The development of the right system of system approaches from farm to national markets and/or export hubs in low-income countries will be essential.

The 3 Degrees report led by Centre for Sustinable Cooling CSC, the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES) and the IIR, in collaboration with DP World, will provide a platform for action, interrogating the role of frozen food in the global food system and whether the historical -18°C set-point for frozen goods in the cold-chain is relevant in context of today’s food products, refrigeragion technology and monitoring.

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Around 3 million reefer containers are currently shipped around the world, and the number is growing annually. Why is that relevant for COP28? Reefer containers are responsible for a large share of the shipping industry’s energy consumption and therefore responsible for a large share of its indirect emissions. Moreover, reefer containers are charged with HFC refrigerants that have very high global warming potentials. According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the annual leakage rate is up to 15%.
The event will present the current emissions as well as the expected business-as-usual emissions. It will then present and discuss more future-friendly Greener Reefer options and their mitigation potentials. The event is organized by GIZ in cooperation with the Kühne Foundation and one Reefer Manufacturer (tbc).

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