Context: Recently, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has released a report, suggesting various measures to reduce 2050 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 60% in the global cooling sector.

Key highlights of the Report

• The global average efficiency of all cooling equipment operating in 2050 would need to be almost tripled with the available technologies.

• Accelerate low global warming potential technologies, enhance refrigerant management and cut HFC emissions by 50% in 2050.

• Global warming potential is a measure of how much energy the emissions of 1 ton of a gas will absorb, relative to the emissions of 1 ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) over a given time.

• Decarbonising the power grid could reduce sectoral emissions by 96%.

• Passive cooling and efficient cooling equipment will save consumers $17 trillion in 2022-2050.

• It is projected to reduce the peak power requirement by 1.5-2 terawatts (TW), avoiding power generation investments in the order of $4 trillion to $5 trillion.

• The G20 countries represent 73% of the potential for reducing cooling emissions to 2050, of which the G7 countries account for 11%.

• Presently, more than 40 countries, including India, have developed National Cooling Action Plans (NCAPs).

• India and China have included implementation mechanisms in their NCAPs.

• In India, effective life-cycle refrigerant management could mitigate around 2 billion tonnes of CO2e emissions by 2050.

Recommendations from the Report

• Passive cooling (such as cool roofs, ventilation, and bringing nature back to cities),

• Higher energy efficiency standards,

• Faster phasedown of climate-warming appliances,

• Nature-based measures such as insulation, natural shading, and ventilation.

• Minimum energy performance standards and labelling,

• Accelerate the phasedown of climate-warming hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) faster than the Kigali Amendment targets.

• The Kigali Amendment is an international agreement to reduce the consumption and production of HFC.

• This is expected to prevent the emissions of up to 105 billion tonnes of CO2e of GHGs, avoiding up to 0.5 degrees Celsius of global temperature rise by 2100.

About Cooling Sector

• Cooling is a highly energy-intensive sector, accounting for 20% of all global electricity consumption.

• Most cooling technologies involve the use of potent GHGs like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

• It is essential in combating rising temperatures, maintaining food quality and safety, and keeping vaccines stable and economies productive.

• With current policies, the installed capacity of cooling equipment will triple globally, resulting in a more than doubling of electricity consumption by 2050.

• The resulting emissions could be between 4.4 billion and 6.1 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) in 2050.

• This is equal to more than 10% of global projected emissions of 2050.

About Cool Coalition and Global Cooling Pledge

• It was launched at the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by the United Arab Emirates.

• More than 60 countries signed the Pledge to reduce the climate impact of the cooling sector.

About India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP)

• ICAP was launched in 2019 by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.

• It provides a 20-year perspective and outlines actions needed to provide access to sustainable cooling.

Targets of ICAP

• Reduce cooling demand across sectors by 20% to 25% by 2037-38,

• Reduce refrigerant demand by 25% to 30% by 2037-38,

• Reduce cooling energy requirements by 25% to 40% by 2037-38,

• Recognise cooling and related areas as a thrust area of research under National Science and Technology Programme,

• Training and certification of 100,000 servicing sector technicians by 2022-23, synergizing with Skill India Mission.

Steps taken to Implement Recommendation of the ICAP

• The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has brought the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) for non-residential large commercial buildings and Eco-Niwas Samhita (ECBC-R).

• Promoting non-ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) and low Global Warming potential-based technologies.

• Research to promote indigenous development of low global warming potential refrigerants.

• Development of safety standards for flammable refrigerants in the Refrigeration and Air-conditioning sector.

• Up-skilling of Refrigeration and Air-conditioning (RAC) service technicians under the national skill qualification framework (NSQF).