• The Global Cooling Watch report, Keeping it Chill: How to meet cooling demands while cutting emissions – was released by the UN Environment Programme-led Cool Coalition.
• The report is released in support of the Global Cooling Pledge, a joint initiative between the United Arab Emirates as host of COP28 and the Cool Coalition.
  • Over 60 countries signed up to the Pledge with commitments to reduce the climate impact of the cooling sector.
• The cooling sector accounts for 20 per cent of electricity use and is essential in combating rising temperatures, maintaining food quality and safety, as well as keeping vaccines stable and economies productive.

MAJOR FINDINGS

• 82% of global cooling-related GHG emissions came from G20 countries, in 2022.
• Under the current approach to cooling, the installed capacity of cooling equipment globally will triple between now and 2050.
  • The resulting emissions could be between 4.4 billion and 6.1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) in 2050.
• Presently, more than 40 countries, including India, have developed National Cooling Action Plans (NCAPs)

RECOMMENDATIONS

• The new proposed action plans include passive cooling (such as cool roofs, ventilation and bringing nature back to cities), higher energy efficiency standards, and a faster phasedown of climate-warming refrigerants and air conditioning.
• Getting cooling right with these measures would cut at least 60 per cent off predicted 2050 sectoral emissions, provide increased access to life-saving cooling, take the pressure off energy grids, and save trillions by 2050.

TARGETS UNDER INDIA COOLING ACTION PLAN (ICAP)

• Launched in 2019, ICAP aims to
  • Reduce cooling demand across sectors by 20% to 25% by 2037-38, and
  • Reduce refrigerant demand by 25% to 30% by 2037-38.
  • Reduce cooling energy requirements by 25% to 40% by 2037-38
  • Recognize ‘cooling and related areas’ as a thrust area of research under the national S&T Programme.