Showing 759 results
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Global Cooling Pledge Progress Report 2024
Report assessing progress toward the Global Cooling Pledge's three primary aims: reducing cooling-related emissions by 68% by 2050, increasing sustainable cooling access, and improving new air conditioner efficiency by 50%. It is based on data collected from signatory countries, sub-national entities, and non-state actors between August and October 2024, utilizing a questionnaire developed in collaboration with the UNEP Cool Coalition.
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Global Cooling Watch 2023
The Global Cooling Watch is UNEP's biennial publication on sustainable cooling. The inaugural edition on 2023 presents a data-driven roadmap to achieve near-zero emissions from cooling. It models realistic, high-impact pathways across key sectors and lays out three major pillars for action: passive cooling, energy efficiency, and refrigerant transition. Released in support of the Global Cooling Pledge, the report calls on governments to accelerate solutions that reduce emissions and expand access.
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Global Energy and Climate Model
The Global Energy and Climate Model (GEC Model) is a comprehensive modelling framework used by the IEA to produce long-term energy scenarios, including the Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS), Announced Pledges Scenario (APS), and Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE). The model integrates current and planned policies, technology cost and performance data, socio-economic drivers, and energy demand/supply transformations to explore possible pathways for the global energy system. It helps countries understand implications of policy choices across sectors and gives insight on what kinds of appliance efficiency, cooling demand, refrigerant phase-down, and emissions reductions are feasible under various policy ambitions.
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Global recognition of the importance of nature-based solutions to the impacts of climate change
Highlights the role of nature-based solutions (NbS) in mitigating climate change impacts, which can indirectly contribute to passive cooling through ecosystem restoration, urban greening, and biodiversity conservation. Emphasizes integrating NbS into climate policies and Nationally Determined Contributions.
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Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction 2024/2025: Not just another brick in the wall
Provides a global overview of progress in the buildings and construction sector, emphasizing building energy codes, materials efficiency, and climate-aligned finance. While passive cooling is not a primary focus, strengthening building codes and promoting net-zero design principles indirectly supports passive cooling adoption.
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Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction: Beyond foundations: Mainstreaming sustainable solutions to cut emissions from the buildings sector
Tracks global progress on building decarbonization, emphasizing energy efficiency, resilient construction methods, and nature-based/biophilic design. Highlights policy gaps, outdated energy codes, and the need for stronger systemic interventions. While not exclusively focused on passive cooling, it promotes nature-based design and building envelope improvements that support passive cooling.
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Green and blue spaces – Contribution to reducing cooling demand and increasing resilience in cities. An analysis of urban contexts in fast-developing countries
Examines how nature-based solutions (green roofs, walls, urban forests, blue zones) and energy efficiency reduce urban heat, with co-benefits for resilience and emissions reduction. Focuses on policy and planning conditions and business models for integrating these solutions in fast-growing cities, with case studies from Rajkot and Mombasa.
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Green Public Procurement Technical Guidelines and Specifications for Energy Efficient Air Conditioners
The Green Public Procurement Technical Guidelines provide detailed technical specifications and procurement guidance specifically for energy-efficient air conditioners to help governments adopt sustainable public procurement (SPP) programs. These guidelines include the specification of energy performance criteria, methodologies for lifecycle cost evaluation, standards for refrigerants with low global warming potential (GWP), and noise (sound power) thresholds. The goal is to support bulk procurement by public sector entities in a way that accelerates the market uptake of efficient cooling appliances, contributing to energy savings and emissions reductions in developing and emerging economies.
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Green Public Procurement Technical Guidelines and Specifications for Energy Efficient Refrigeration Appliances
This guideline offers technical procurement criteria for energy-efficient refrigeration appliances intended for sustainable public procurement use. It covers four market sectors: domestic refrigerators and freezers, commercial/professional refrigeration (closed, self-contained units), vending machines, and laboratory-grade refrigerators and freezers. Key topics include energy consumption limits, refrigerant and foam agent standards (with GWP/ODP thresholds), food preservation performance (compartment temperatures, climatic zones), durability and reparability (availability of spare parts, repair information, warranties), environmental sound management (end-of-life handling, packaging), and social criteria. It also provides tools like an Excel spreadsheet to support life cycle cost and emissions comparison of procurement options. This resource helps public entities design tenders and procurement policies that favor high-efficiency, climate-friendly refrigeration equipment and ensures that these purchases deliver long-term energy, cost, and environmental benefits.
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Growing Resilience: Unlocking the Potential of Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa
Highlights the role of integrating nature-based solutions (NBS) into broader climate and development policies to enhance resilience. Emphasizes the need for policy alignment, dedicated financing mechanisms, technical capacity building, and improved data/benefit tracking. Calls for mainstreaming NBS into planning frameworks and ensuring community-responsive approaches.