In support of climate action, Cool Coalition partners announce huge push on efficient, climate-friendly cooling

As the world gathered for the Climate Action Summit, partners of the Cool Coalition announced major new commitments on efficient, climate-friendly cooling which can make a huge positive impact on climate change, help achieve sustainable development and save trillions of dollars.

Commitments include governments promising to develop comprehensive national cooling plans, major companies in the cooling industry pledging to cut the emissions of their products, and donors providing new funding.

Catalyzed by the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Programme, the Cool Coalition – a global network connecting over 80 partners from the private sector, government, cities, international organizations, finance, academia and civil society – was set up in April 2019 and works to expand access to cooling while reducing the climate impact.

The cooling challenge has been referred to as a “blind spot” in climate action, which must increase at least fivefold to keep the global temperature rise this century to 1.5°C. By taking forward an unprecedented and coordinated surge of activity to make efficient, climate-friendly cooling accessible for all, the Cool Coalition is responding to the UN Secretary-General’s call for accelerated climate action.

Over one billion people presently face immediate risks from a lack of cooling, and a warming planet means this number will only increase. But cooling actually contributes to heating the planet. By 2050, space cooling alone will consume as much electricity as China and India today and much of the world’s projected renewables capacity. But according to the latest research, moving to best available technologies would reduce cumulative emissions by 38 -60 GtCO2e by 2030 and up to 130-260 GtCO2e by 2050.

Getting cooling right offers a three-in-one opportunity to cut global warming, improve the lives of millions of people, and realize huge financial savings,” said UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Inger Andersen. “The Cool Coalition is a powerful new collective force for realizing these and many other benefits. UNEP is delighted to be working with such a wide range of stakeholders to accelerate the transition towards efficient, climate-friendly cooling for all.”

Following the Summit, partners will focus on action at the national and local level that leaves no one behind, including turning 26 national cooling plans into action, scaling up finance, installing cool roofs across the globe and driving technology pilots.

These actions will also be included in updated country Nationally Determined Contributions, due in 2020. Five countries, including Senegal, have already committed to integrate cooling in their Nationally Determined Contributions; other Cooling Coalition partners are expected to expand this number.

Original source: UN Environment
Published on 23 September 2019