Context:

Currently, less than 10 percent of people in developing and emerging economies own air conditioners. As these economies and populations grow, it is expected that energy usage for space cooling will triple by 2050. The stock of air conditioners in these regions is projected to rise from 900 million in 2019 to 1.5 billion by 2030. Cooling is crucial in homes, businesses, schools, and hospitals. The goal is to ensure that cooling products are energy-efficient and use low-global warming potential technologies. This not only provides greenhouse gas (GHG) savings but also reduces electricity bills for consumers and enhances electric grid stability by lowering peak load demand.

Improving energy efficiency significantly reduces the cost of owning and operating these devices. Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and energy labels, if well-designed and implemented, are among the fastest and most effective methods to improve efficiency. However, while some countries have MEPS and energy labels, many are outdated or unenforced. Inadequate MEPS and labels leave countries vulnerable to becoming dumping grounds for products that cannot be sold elsewhere.

Governments at all levels can lead the way in advancing the air conditioning market by implementing sustainable public procurement policies that prioritize energy-efficient and low-global warming potential products. The COP28 Global Cooling Pledge includes commitments on MEPS and public procurement:

  • Commit to establish Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) by at the latest 2030 and aim to routinely raise ambition and progress consistent with respective national laws with a view to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and noting best available technology and available model regulation guidelines;
  • Commit to establish or update public procurement policies and guidance for low-GWP and high efficiency cooling technologies and innovative solutions where feasible or ensure broader arrangements are in place that drive such approaches in public procurement at the latest by 2030.

Objective: Advancement of MEPS and Public Procurement Commitments of the Global Cooling Pledge

The MEPS and Public Procurement working group aims to unite key organizations and countries working on these issues to advance the setting and updating of MEPS and public procurement specifications for relevant cooling products (room air conditioners, residential refrigerators, and commercial refrigeration).

 

Activities:

  1. Identify best practices for governments to develop/update MEPS and public procurement for cooling products
  • Identify existing resources and tools for guiding governments in setting MEPS and public procurement for cooling products.
  • Synthesize clear messaging to assist in actionable progress in developing policies.
  • Assess the status of MEPS and public procurement for cooling products in governments committing to the Pledge.
  1. Raise awareness and respond to government support for MEPS and public procurement
  • Highlight opportunities to update or develop MEPS and public procurement in alignment with NDCs, National Cooling Action Plans, and regional commitments.
  • Benchmark existing and future policies to ensure alignment with global and regional commitments.

 

Contacts:

Lead: UNEP-Led Cool Coalition (unep-coolcoalition@un.org)

Co-chairs: U4E (patrick.blake@un.org), more to be confirmed.

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