Date: Monday, 16 January 2023 Time: 14:00 – 15:30 pm GST Event Language: English
Format: High-level Roundtable
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Organized by: COP28 UAE, UNEP-led Cool Coalition
In partnership with: IRENA and SEforALL
Event description
As the world gets warmer due to a changing climate, sustainable approaches to cooling are more needed than ever. In a warming world, cooling in all its forms is critical to protect vulnerable populations, keep food fresh, maintain the stability of vaccines, secure energy systems, keep workforces productive, and mitigate further warming. Conventional cooling is currently responsible for over 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet fragile countries without access to cooling are already experiencing deadly loss and damage from extreme heat and broken cold chains.
Reducing emissions from the sector while meeting cooling needs for all is a critical part of the transition to inclusive and equitable net-zero emissions societies. The Cooling Emissions and Policy Synthesis Report, developed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Energy Agency (IEA), estimated that by combining energy efficiency and refrigerant solutions, the world can avoid the equivalent of 4-8 years of total annual GHG emissions by 2050. Meeting future cooling needs sustainably can support over 1 billion people at risk and also reduce the costs of the energy transition by US$ 3.5 trillion by 2030.
Recognizing the vital role of sustainable cooling in tackling climate change and achieving the SDGs, COP28 UAE together with the UNEP-led Cool Coalition will launch the Cool COP Menu of Actions in partnership with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL).
Outcomes
- Rally both State and non-State actors around the idea of a global cooling pledge and shared set of actions on sustainable cooling that are required across five impact areas: nature-based solutions, super-efficient appliances, food and vaccine cold chains, district cooling, and National Cooling Action Plans.
- Highlight sustainable cooling as a multi-purpose approach to protect the most vulnerable, drive down emissions, and reduce loss and damage associated with climate change.
