Cooling is no longer a luxury, it is essential for health, food security, and climate resilience. Yet 1.1 billion people face high risk from lack of access to cooling. By 2050, global cooling demand will triple, emissions could reach 6.8 GtCO₂e (10% of global totals), and cold chain gaps may continue driving 12% of food loss. To address this, 72 countries have signed the Global Cooling Pledge, committing to comprehensive action on efficiency, passive cooling, and refrigerants. But only 25% have the enabling policies and regulations in place, and implementation is often stalled by limited capacity and financing.
To bridge the gap between Global Cooling Pledge commitments and on-the-ground implementation, UNEP’s Cool Coalition established the EPIC Facility. EPIC consists of three complementary components:
- EPIC Solutions – a Technical Assistance Facility,
- EPIC Deploy – a Pilot Deployment Facility, and
- EPIC Finance Accelerator – a Finance Facility.
Together, these components provide targeted, fast-track technical support to Pledge signatory countries and cities, and help to de-risk policy environments, implement catalytic pilot projects, and mobilize finance for sustainable cooling.
EPIC Solutions, the Technical Assistance Facility, aggregates and responds to requests from Pledge Signatories for tailored support. This includes policy and regulatory design, capacity building, feasibility studies, policy reviews, and more, delivered in collaboration with UNEP Cool Coalition’s network of partners.
By providing this targeted assistance, the EPIC Facility aims to create an enabling environment that de-risks investment and channels finance towards sustainable cooling solutions for its signatories.
Signatory countries
National governments that have endorsed the Global Cooling Pledge.
Signatory sub-nationals
Signatory Cities, states, counties and regions that have endorsed the Global Cooling Pledge can receive technical support under EPIC Solutions and the Beat the Heat in Cities Initiative
Pledge national focal points will submit requests through an online portal against a curated solutions catalogue to ensure catalytic and fast-tracked action on Pledge commitments. UNEP will work with Cool Coalition members and working groups to respond to requests and ensure they unlock and align to investments.
For National Entities
1. National Cooling Action Plan
Support to design or implement comprehensive strategies that integrate sustainable cooling into national development priorities.
2. NDC Integration
Technical assistance to embed cooling measures in climate commitments and enhance ambition through mitigation and adaptation actions.
3. Building Efficiency and Building Energy Codes
Guidance to develop, update, or enforce building codes that improve energy efficiency and thermal comfort in buildings.
4. Minimum Energy Performance Standards and Equipment Efficiency
Support to establish or strengthen MEPS for cooling appliances to reduce energy demand and emissions.
5. Public Procurement for Sustainable Cooling
Assistance in designing procurement policies that prioritize efficient, climate-friendly cooling solutions in public and private sectors.
6. Lifecycle Refrigerant Management
Technical input to strengthen policies and systems for refrigerant recovery, recycling, and safe disposal.
7. Sustainable Cooling Finance
Support to design investment roadmaps and financial mechanisms that unlock investment in sustainable cooling solutions such as renewable energy, district cooling etc.
For Subnational Entities
1. Heat Action Plans
Assistance to develop and implement city- and state-level heat action plans that combine passive, active, and behavioral measures to protect vulnerable populations.
2. Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) and Passive Cooling Projects
Guidance to integrate NbS, blue-green spaces and passive cooling strategies such as urban greening water bodies and building energy codes,for heat resilience and co-benefits.
3. Public Procurement for Sustainable Cooling
Assistance in designing procurement policies that prioritize efficient, climate-friendly cooling solutions in public and private sectors.