CoP28: Global Cooling Pledge launched as 63 countries commit to cut emissions from refrigeration and air-conditioning
DUBAI: The Global Cooling Pledge was launched today at the UN Climate Change Conference (CoP28) in Dubai, bringing a much-needed focus on the climate impacts of the cooling sector.
Sustainable cooling is a key tool for both climate mitigation (reducing emissions from energy use and refrigerant greenhouse gases) and climate adaptation (increasing access to cooling in a warming world).
Recognising that action on sustainable cooling can avoid 78 billion tonnes CO2e by 2050, 63 countries have joined the Global Climate Pledge, which commits to reduce cooling-related emissions across all sectors by at least 68 per cent from 2022 levels by 2050, with specific measures to address refrigerants with high global warming potential, including ratifying the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol by 2024 and supporting earlier action to reduce hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) emissions through the Montreal Protocol’s Multilateral Fund.
Clare Perry, EIA UK Climate Campaign Leader, said: “Sustainable cooling is fundamental to climate mitigation, adaptation and our sustainable development goals. Coordinated and ambitious action at the global level to achieve sustainable cooling is long overdue and the Global Cooling Pledge is very welcome – but we expect a robust and transparent governance structure to ensure accountability and early implementation and we expect the pledge to be strengthened over time. Otherwise, it’s just empty promises.”
Avipsa Mahapatra, EIA US Climate Campaign Director, said: “This Pledge is a recognition of the significance of the cooling sector’s contribution to climate change and the unquestionable need to phase out HFCs, especially as we look to enhance cooling access in a warming world.
“The good news is that already-established institutions, mechanisms and experience of the Montreal Protocol can be leveraged to accelerate the mitigation of emissions. Given it has been seven years since the Kigali Amendment, countries and companies must now go beyond words and ensure truly sustainable cooling.”
Signatories also pledge to collectively increase global average efficiency of new air-conditioning equipment by 50 per cent by 2030.
Cooling issues will have a prominent place at the climate conference, which continues through December 12. EIA is hosting three cooling-related side events at CoP28.
CONTACTS FOR MEDIA
- Clare Perry, EIA UK Climate Campaign Leader, via clareperry[at]eia-international.org
- Avipsa Mahapatra, EIA US Climate Campaign Director, via amahapatra[at]eia-global.org
- Paul Newman, EIA UK Senior Press & Communications Officer, via press[at]eia-international.org
- Denise M. Stilley, EIA US Head of Communications, via dstilley[at]eia-global.org
EDITORS’ NOTES
- EIA investigates and campaigns against environmental crime and abuse. Its undercover investigations expose transnational wildlife crime, with a focus on elephants, pangolins and tigers and forest crimes such as illegal logging and deforestation for cash crops such as palm oil. It works to safeguard global marine ecosystems by addressing the threats posed by plastic pollution, bycatch and commercial exploitation of whales, dolphins and porpoises. Finally, it works to avert climate catastrophe by strengthening and enforcing regional and international agreements that tackle short-lived climate super-pollutants, including ozone-depleting substances, hydrofluorocarbons and methane, and advocating corporate and policy measures to promote transition to a sustainable cooling sector and away from fossil fuels. It uses its findings in hard-hitting reports to campaign for new legislation, improved governance and more effective enforcement. Its field experience is used to provide guidance to enforcement agencies and it forms partnerships with local groups and activists and support their work through hands-on training.
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