Context: Why a Comprehensive NDC Cooling Guide? 

Cooling is a critical sector that intersects with both climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. As global temperatures rise, access to sustainable cooling is becoming increasingly essential for human health, food security, and economic prosperity. However, conventional cooling technologies contribute significantly to global warming through both direct emissions of potent greenhouse gases and high energy consumption. 

Currently, there is a gap between the Montreal Protocol’s focus on ozone-depleting substances and the broader climate impacts of the cooling sector. Existing guidelines often provide a broader perspective but lack specific methodologies for countries to systematically include the cooling sector in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). 

A comprehensive NDC Cooling Guide is needed to identify opportunities to bridge this gap and provide countries with detailed methodological guidance for baseline setting, target definition, and progress tracking in the cooling sector. This guide will empower countries to integrate cooling comprehensively into their NDCs, spanning both the Energy and Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU) sectors. In addition, it will foster the implementation of the NDC on cooling by providing a process guide for the investment assessment. 

Objective: Develop a Comprehensive NDC Cooling Guide with Input from Key Stakeholders  

The aim of this working group is to draw upon the experience and knowledge of organizations and countries that have been working on cooling sector integration into NDCs to: 

1. Develop a comprehensive NDC Cooling Guide that covers:

• Clear, actionable guidance for policymakers to include cooling in NDC targets 

• Robust methodologies for setting baselines, developing mitigation scenarios, and implementing effective Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems 

• A practical guide to assessing investment needs, crucial for attracting finance to implement cooling-related NDC commitments 

• Country experiences and best practice examples 

2. Ensure the guide addresses key aspects such as:

• Alignment with national baselines and existing climate commitments 

• Integration of both energy efficiency and refrigerant transition targets 

• Consideration of adaptation goals and benefits affected by cooling strategies 

• Guidance on financing and investment assessment for cooling sector NDC implementation 

The process will seek to incorporate relevant input from existing guidelines, especially on policy options. Examples of countries which included the cooling sector into their NDCs will add value regarding process design and target development.  

Working Group Approach, Outputs, and Milestones:

The draft text will be based on interviews and written input by the working group. Individual working group members might provide input via targeted meetings prior to text drafting. The working group will discuss the draft text of all parts (either in the same or in consecutive meetings, depending on the interview and writing progress), provide comments and additions and support the compilation and selection of country examples. 

Output 1 – Part 1: Guidance for policymakers on including cooling in NDC targets 

This part will guide the policy maker by answering potential questions on the governance structure of NDCs, coverage of the sector in NDCs, reporting of HFC emissions, breakdown of emissions from electricity generation and targets setting for the cooling sector.   

Output 2 – Part 2: Methodologies for baseline setting, mitigation scenarios, adaptation plans, MRV 

This part will provide comprehensive guidance on establishing a robust baseline for the cooling sector within the NDCs, including their alignment with the national baseline, HFC emission reporting, BAU development, data collection, Energy sector scenario analysis, socio-economic drivers and adaptation goals. 

Output 3 – Part 3: Process guide for investment assessment of NDC implementation 

The part focuses on the critical aspect of financing the implementation of cooling-related NDC commitments. It provides a comprehensive process for investment assessment, helping countries develop robust strategies to secure the necessary financial resources for their cooling sector activities. 

This working group concept provides a structured approach to developing the comprehensive NDC Cooling Guide, ensuring input from key stakeholders and real-world examples. The concept can be further refined based on feedback from potential working group members. 

Contacts: