UNDP showcases climate-friendly solutions for air conditioning and refrigeration at regional conference in Istanbul



Istanbul, 29 September 2022 – Nearly 200 representatives from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Türkiye and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region gathered in Istanbul on 28-29 September 2022 to discuss how to incorporate sustainable cooling solutions into their climate agendas. The “Realizing Opportunities in Sustainable Cooling” conference was organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as part of the Cool Up programme.
 
Funded by Germany’s International Climate Initiative, Cool Up aims to promote sustainable cooling in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Türkiye. It is implemented by a diverse consortium of think tanks, conservation groups and industry organizations led by the global consultancy Guidehouse. UNDP is one of the international partners and the country lead partner in Türkiye. 
 
“As climate change drives temperatures to new record highs, finding new ways to keep people cool is vital,” said UNDP Resident Representative Louisa Vinton. “Our aim in organizing this conference is to demonstrate that this can be achieved without increasing carbon emissions.”
 
The conference offered a first opportunity for a diverse gathering of participants from government, industry and the finance sector to meet face-to-face and discuss how to accelerate the sustainable cooling transformation in their countries. Government representatives included the officials responsible for reducing the use of ozone-depleting substances in the cooling industry as part of country compliance with the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment. 
 
The Montreal Protocol, dating from 1987, is the landmark international agreement credited with saving the ozone layer; it is so far the only UN treaty ever ratified by all 198 member states. Speakers at the Cool Up event called for the same spirit of cooperation in ensuring that the cooling industry delivers results while reducing the carbon emissions that cause climate change.  
 
“Many countries face the same challenges and are working on advancing sustainable cooling solutions,” said Katja Eisbrenner, Cool Up programme director and Director at Guidehouse in Germany. “We look forward to continuing to work on solutions, to learn from each other, and to connect ideas and individuals that are seeking to upscale sustainable cooling and implement the Paris Agreement together with the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment.” 
 
The four partner Cool Up countries are all experiencing fast-growing demand for cooling as temperatures rise. The MENA region is currently warming at double the global average and is anticipated to be 4⁰C warmer by 2050. In addition, with growing populations, urbanisation and higher living standards, the region’s energy demand is expected to rise by 50 percent by 2040. 
 
These factors suggest that demand for cooling is about to skyrocket, threatening a big increase in greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. The Cool Up programme aims to break this vicious cycle by tackling the rising cooling demand while mitigating the adverse impacts on the ozone layer and the climate. The four partner countries have high potential to boost energy efficiency and the use of natural refrigerants in the cooling and refrigeration sector. 
 
Two additional regional conferences are scheduled as part of the Cool Up programme. 
 
For more information: Esra Özçeşmeci, UNDP Türkiye, esra.ozcesmeci@undp.org