Cooling is essential for health, food preservation, comfort, productivity, and industrial processes. However, with rising temperatures, population growth, and economic development, global demand for cooling is projected to triple by 2050. Cooling systems currently consume about 20% of the world’s electricity.

Traditional cooling technologies have relied heavily on chemicals that deplete the ozone layer, many of which are also potent greenhouse gases. During hot summers and in particular heat waves, their operation worsens the “urban heat island effect”, creating peak demand that places enormous strain on electricity grids.

The transition to sustainable cooling is therefore not only critical for meeting the targets of the Montreal Protocol to eliminate ozone depleting substances (ODS), but also presents an opportunity to protect the global climate, modernize technology and drive sustainable economic growth. Furthermore, comprehensive strategies, such as passive cooling building design, inverter-based technologies, and district cooling can substantially reduce cooling loads by lowering and reducing fluctuations in electricity demand. Heat pumps, in particular, are key to cutting fossil fuel use in residential and commercial buildings while enabling greater integration of renewable energy. Smart cooling technologies can further enhance energy efficiency by enabling remote monitoring, optimizing operation and maintenance and supporting demand response.

The Montreal Protocol, through its Multilateral Fund, has taken a comprehensive approach to addressing these challenges, most notably through the historic Kigali Amendment. In recent years, policies and financing mechanisms have been developed not only to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) but also to promote energy efficiency. Full and effective implementation of the Kigali Amendment could prevent up to 0.4°C of global warming by the end of the century, an impact that would be even greater when coupled with significant improvements in energy efficiency.

UNDP supports governments and private sector partners through the following interventions:

• Refrigerant production and consumption data collection, reporting and verification.
• Institutional strengthening, awareness raising, stakeholder engagement.
• Policies, standards, national strategies, and sector plans.
• Technology roadmaps, innovation, investment projects, support toing SMEs.
• Good practices in the servicing sector focusing on training and certification.
• Energy efficiency policy and incentive programmes.