With the United Arab Emirates taking over as president of COP28, the UN Environment Program (UNEP)-led Cool Coalition announced the creation of a Global Cooling Pledge and a “Cool COP Menu of Actions” that will be prominent at COP28 as the Earth warms at a dangerous rate. In the coming months, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and Sustainable Energy for All will work closely together to define the Menu.
According to Sustainable Energy for All, climate-friendly cooling options are unavailable to nearly 2.5 billion people. Due to a lack of cooling options, more than one billion people, the vast majority of whom live in Asia and Africa, are at risk of extreme heat.
However, conventional cooling, such as air conditioning, accounts for more than 7% of global emissions of greenhouse gases. Space cooling’s energy requirements and emissions will triple by 2050 if they are not properly managed.
According to UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen, “expanding cooling will protect the most vulnerable communities from extreme heat, keep food fresh and vaccines safe, keep employees productive, and digital economies will be viable.” We must prevent emissions of greenhouse gases related to cooling from fueling the climate fire as cooling expands. Therefore, I am pleased that the topic of cooling has been added to the global agenda of the subsequent UN Climate Change Conference.
In five areas, the initiative offers governments and non-state stakeholders incentives to take action on sustainable cooling: nature-based arrangements, super-productive apparatuses, food and immunization cold chains, region cooling, and Public Cooling Activity Plans.
“Billions of people’s health and prosperity are directly threatened by the global temperature rise. However, addressing this obstacle should not cause additional harm. We must provide equitable access to climate-friendly cooling solutions and move away from inefficient and polluting cooling systems. COP28 UAE is committed to effective partnerships and innovative technologies. We look forward to presenting solutions at COP28 this year and working with the Cool Coalition and UNEP to raise this issue.” COP28 President-Designate His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber said.
The Cool COP Menu of Actions will enable governments, the private sector, development banks, financial institutions, and philanthropies to contribute to a wider and more equitable access to cooling services while paving the way for sustainable cooling solutions in the lead-up to COP28, which will take place at Expo City Dubai from November 30 to December 12.
“Maldives was able to complete the phase out of HCFC ten years ahead of the Montreal Protocol’s deadline in 2020. However, the high cost of not taking action on cooling is being borne by fragile nations like the Maldives: Extreme heat and broken cold chains are causing fatal losses and damage today, according to Khadeeja Naseem, the Maldives’ Minister of State for Environment, Climate Change, and Technologies, one of the early supporters of this initiative. “It is of the utmost importance that access to sustainable and efficient cooling systems be equitable Maldives encourage all countries, regardless of developed or developing economic status, to undertake ambitious action in their cooling sector,” Naseem said.
Dan Jrgensen, Denmark’s Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy, has stepped in as a Cool Champion to encourage support for sustainable cooling.
Dan Jrgensen, Denmark’s Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy, stated, “Denmark decided to become a Cool Champion to promote global action on sustainable cooling and bring it to the 2.5 billion people in the global south who lack access.” “Sustainable cooling is not only the blind spot of the energy transition, but it can also bring critical co-benefits including food security and health,” he added.
A report on the Cooling Stocktake will be released by UNEP prior to COP28. The report will look at how countries have done things about sustainable cooling, look at new opportunities, and give advice on how to get politicians to do things that can cut down on greenhouse gas emissions from the cooling industry.
“The COP 28 Presidency has made it abundantly clear to us today that sustainable cooling should be on the agenda for 2023. Over one billion people who face significant cooling access risks face an equity issue. When the temperature rises above 35 degrees, life continues. However, when it does, the most vulnerable are at risk for equality of opportunity, productivity, and health. Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, and Co-Chair of UN-Energy, stated, “I hope you’ll join me this year in working hard to address this.” The Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement (GST) is a crucial process for COP28 to assess the global progress toward the agreement’s goals and agree on a new path to 2030.
About COP28 UAE: From November 30 to December 12, 2023, Expo City Dubai will host COP28 UAE. Over 70,000 people are expected to attend the Conference, including heads of state, government officials, international industry leaders, representatives from the private sector, academics, experts, young people, and non-state actors.
The first-ever Global Stocktake, a comprehensive assessment of progress toward climate goals, will be presented at COP28 UAE in accordance with the requirements of the Paris Climate Agreement.
Through a pragmatic global energy transition and a “leave no one behind” approach to inclusive climate action, the United Arab Emirates will lead a process for all parties to agree on a clear road map to accelerate progress.
