International. A report just presented by the UN to COP28, meeting in Dubai, proposes a route to reduce refrigeration emissions globally.
More than 60 countries, as yet unspecified, signed the so-called 'Cooling Pledge' with actions proposed to reduce the climate impact of the refrigeration sector, which could also provide "universal access to life-saving cooling, relieve pressure on energy grids and save trillions of dollars by 2050".
The report was published with the support of the Global Cooling Pledge, a joint initiative between the UAE, as host of COP28, and the Cool Coalition, led by UNEP.
The paper outlines actions to be taken in passive cooling strategies, such as insulation, natural shade, ventilation and reflective surfaces, higher standards of energy efficiency, and the phasing out of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants.
According to its authors, following the report's recommendations could reduce projected emissions by 2050 by around 3.8 billion tonnes of CO2. These recommendations are:
- Enable an additional 3.5 billion people to benefit from refrigerators, air conditioners or passive refrigeration by 2050.
- Reduce end-user electricity bills by $1 trillion by 2050 and by a cumulative $17 trillion between 2022 and 2050.
- Reduce peak energy needs by 1.5 to 2 Terawatts (TW), almost double the total generation capacity of the EU today.
- Avoid investments in power generation in the order of 4 to 5 trillion dollars.
Cold Demand
According to the report, cooling brings relief to people and is also essential for other critical areas and services, such as global food security and vaccine delivery through refrigeration. But at the same time, conventional cooling, such as air conditioning, is a major driver of climate change, responsible for more than 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The UN says that if not properly managed, energy needs for space cooling will triple by 2050, along with the associated emissions.
In addition, the agency estimates that more than 1 billion people, mostly in Africa and Asia, are at high risk of extreme heat due to lack of access to refrigeration. The UN also noted that nearly a third of the world's population is exposed to deadly heat waves, for more than 20 days a year on average.
Power Consumption
A recent UNEP report shows that taking action to reduce the energy consumption of refrigeration equipment could lead to a reduction of at least 60% in sectoral emissions projected by 2050.
"The refrigeration sector must grow to protect us from rising temperatures, maintain food quality and safety, preserve stable vaccines and productive economies. But this growth must not come at the cost of the energy transition and more intense climate impacts," said Inger Andersen, UNEP Executive Director, launching the report during a press conference in Expo City, where COP28 was held.
