Date: Tuesday, 4 July 2023 Time: 13:00 – 15:00 (GMT+7) Event Language: English
Format: Hybrid Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Organized by: United Arab Emirates (UAE) COP28 Presidency, United Nations Environment Programme, Cool Coalition
Description & Objectives:
In a warming world, cooling is a necessity for productivity, food security and vaccine supply. Cooling uses refrigerants – many of which are controlled by the Montreal Protocol – and is one of the biggest contributors to global warming. If left unchecked, emissions from cooling are expected to double by 2030 and triple by 2050, driven by heat waves, population growth, urbanization, and a growing middle class.
Recognizing the vital role of sustainable cooling in tackling climate change, delivering on the energy transition, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the COP28 UAE Presidency announced the development of a Global Cooling Pledge and a menu of options – to be featured prominently at COP28. The Global Cooling Pledge can serve as a step toward catalyzing global and national cooling sector actions that also support the achievement of SDG 7, SDG 13, NDC targets and the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The Global Cooling Stocktake Report – the most extensive policy inventory being developed on sustainable cooling – will also be launched at COP28.
This side-event ‘Sustainable Cooling towards a Cool COP28’, organized by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) COP28 Presidency and the United Nations Environment Programme-led Cool Coalition – aims to build momentum for global action and increased ambition on sustainable cooling by mobilizing countries to join the Global Cooling Pledge. It will do this by showcasing the COP28 Presidency’s efforts to a ‘Cool’ COP28 and offering a glimpse at the initial findings of Global Cooling Stocktake Report. The event will include high-level interventions from countries, industry, and international financial institutions on their actions on sustainable cooling and their perspectives on the Global Cooling Pledge ahead of COP28.
Speakers:
- Ms. Liazzat Rabbiosi, Ozone Secretariat, UNEP
- Mr. Saood Al Noori, Head of Diplomatic Engagement, Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change
- Mr. Andrew Clark, Division Chief of Chemicals, Air Quality, and Waste, Office of Environmental Quality, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State
- Ms. Miruza Mohamed, Director, Environment Management and Conservation Department, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Maldives
- Ms. Shikha Bhasin, Senior Advisor, Cool Coalition, UNEP
- Mr. Elías Gómez Mesa, Director Of The National Ozone Layer Protection Program, Ministry Of The Environment And Natural Resources, Dominican Republic
- Mr. Marindany Kirui, Coordinator, National Ozone Unit, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Kenya
- Ms. Nguyen Dang Thu Cuc, Deputy Head of GHG Emission Reduction and Ozone Layer Protection Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Government of Vietnam
- Mr. Kevin Fay, Executive Director, Global Food Cold Chain Council; Executive Director, Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy
- Ms. Andrea Voigt, Head of Global Public Affairs, Danfoss
- Ms. Eva Rossi, Senior Environmental and Social Development Specialist, IFC