Cooling the Heat: Enhancing Energy Efficiency of the Refrigeration and Cooling Sector

Already one of the most successful environmental treaties in history, the Montreal Protocol’s most recent amendment, the Kigali Amendment, calls for the phase-down of hydroflourocarbons (HFCs) and holds the potential to prevent up to 0.5°C warming. Achieving energy efficiency gains in cooling equipment has the potential to double that climate benefit.

At this side event, stakeholders came together to explore how to achieve maximum gains for the climate by exploiting advances in energy-efficient cooling technologies, stressing the need for collaboration to accelerate the uptake of these technologies.

Shikha Bhasin, UNEP Cool Coalition, moderated this event, noting that 2024 is on track to be the hottest year on record and that keys for reducing emissions as demand for cooling rises includes meeting Kigali Amendment goals, improving energy efficiency, and advancing passive cooling solutions.

In opening remarks, Megumi Seki, Executive Secretary, Ozone Secretariat, stressed the potential for climate benefits by phasing down HFCs and emphasized that the transition to lower global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants must be combined with gains in energy efficiency.

Marco Durán, International Institute of Refrigeration, then presented data showing the rising demand for cooling, which will continue to increase as energy-intensive technologies, such as electric vehicles, data centers, and artificial intelligence, are adopted. He underscored that energy efficiency is a “smart investment, because it is better to invest to avoid waste than to invest in the power plants required to provide power” and that there should be no delay in enhancing efficiency. “Energy efficiency is a low-hanging fruit, but if we wait too long to pick up low-hanging fruit, it may rot,” he said.

In a panel discussion, key stakeholders in government and industry shared their efforts to achieve gains in energy efficiency and to build on those gains.

Yulia Suryanti, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia, highlighted how her country is building energy efficiency into its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to reduce emissions and how energy efficiency is tied to carbon pricing mechanisms. She emphasized the need to coordinate actions under international agreements, such as the Kigali Amendment, with the relevant government ministries overseeing various sectors. 

Yaqoub Almatouq, Environment Public Authority, Kuwait, which recently ratified the Kigali Amendment, stressed that the transition to more energy efficient technology is no longer a policy decision but a “market decision.” He underscored that action needs to happen now rather than later, as delay will create the need for a “big jump” in the future. Almatouq also emphasized the need for passing cooling solutions, pointing out how the room where the side event occurred could be made smaller to reduce energy demand.

Hubert Zan, Energy Commission, Ghana, emphasized collaboration between governments and industry so that regulations are tied to technology. Zan also noted that those who service and sell cooling products, such as air conditioners, need to be provided with the right information about energy efficiency, as they have an influence on consumer choice. He also highlighted the need to harmonize regulations and standards among countries, so that they can “leapfrog” in the refrigerant transition, as well as the need for governments to negotiate positive changes with manufacturers.

Anderson Alves, UN Development Programme (UNDP), emphasized that financial tools must be provided to consumers so that they can access technologies, such as digital technologies that more efficiently control heating and cooling.

Helen Walter-Terrinoni, Trane Technologies, also underscored the need to increase the uptake of energy efficient technologies by consumers. She pointed out that uptake could be accelerated by removing barriers to the use of these technologies through changes in building codes and laws.

Yichi Zhang, Midea Group, emphasized that in the transition away from HFCs and toward other refrigerants, there is an opportunity to upgrade supply chains so the cost of more efficient cooling technologies is reduced. Answering an audience question about safety regulations as potential barriers to technology adoption, Zhang highlighted the need for collaboration and high-level planning among key stakeholders, such as industries, universities, and governments.

In final remarks, Alves and Walter-Terrinoni also stressed the importance of collaborative efforts to unlock the potential of new cooling technologies. Alves urged coordination among government ministries and consultations with the private sector. Walter-Terrinoni underscored how regional cooperation among governments can achieve economies of scale and how sharing assets can help train technicians in energy efficient technologies.

Organizer: Montreal Protocol

Contact: Stephanie Egger Haysmith | stephanie.haysmith@un.org

Website: https://ozone.unep.org/treaties/montreal-protocol