Cooling is shaping up to be a hot topic at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), which kicks off next Thursday, November 30, in Dubai. According to the COP28 President, Dr Sultan al Jaber, “We have a unique opportunity to deliver a significant collective response to the cooling challenge,” and the time to act is now.

In recognition of the need for urgent and collaborative action on cooling, some 80 cooling-related sessions are scheduled to take place across the two weeks. Not only has the UN Environment Programme’s Ozone Secretariat curated a program full of interesting sessions at its Montreal Protocol Pavilion, but there will also be a number of other cooling events taking place as part of the official COP28 program and at other pavilions.

Top of the cooling agenda is the launch of the Global Cooling Watch report and the Global Cooling Pledge on December 5, the conference’s official Cooling Day.

The Global Cooling Watch report, which will be debuted at a press conference in the UN Climate Change Media Zone at 12:00 pm on December 5, will shine a light on the projected global growth in the number of air conditioners and refrigeration equipment and the additional energy use and related emissions they will cause. It will also detail where we are in terms of the global transition to more sustainable cooling. The report will look at the gap between “business as usual” and the goal of achieving clean cooling for all and identify how we can bridge it. You can watch a recording of the press conference here.

Where the Stocktake looks at the past and present, the Global Cooling Pledge — which will be launched by the COP28 Presidency at a ministerial event at 6.30 pm on December 5 — looks to the future. It calls on governments and other key stakeholders to commit to action on sustainable cooling, such as accelerating the phasedown of HFC refrigerants, developing a national cooling action plan, establishing increasingly ambitious minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for cooling appliances, and more. We are hopeful that countries will seize the moment by joining the pledge and taking the required actions. The pledge will also be discussed at the press conference. You can watch a recording of the event here.

Innovation

Technological innovation is key if we’re to ensure that everyone has access to the cooling they need without massively raising greenhouse gas emissions. From construction materials and techniques that passively cool our buildings to super-efficient cooling equipment, there are several viable solutions being developed.

District cooling offers a highly efficient centralized solution for built-up urban areas, especially new cities being developed around the world. Join the Cool Coalition and partners at 2.30 pm on December 5 for their event, District Cooling: Delivering A Net-Zero Energy Future and Urban Heat Resilience, at the UNEP Pavilion. You can watch a recording of the event here.

Join Mission Innovation at 11:45 am on December 11 at the UK Pavilion for their Sustainable Cooling in a Warming World event, which will focus on next-generation cooling technologies like the super-efficient room ACs being supported by CCC’s Global Cooling Efficiency Accelerator. 

Policy

Policy has a crucial role to play in supporting the adoption of efficient, climate-friendly, and affordable cooling solutions. From ambitious efficiency standards and building codes to F-gas regulations and rebate programs, there are a number of policymaking tools available.

Join CLASP and the Ozone Secretariat at 4:30 pm on December 2 at the Montreal Protocol Pavilion for their session: Pathways to Prevent the Dumping of Inefficient Appliances. You can watch a recording of the event here.

On December 9 at 10:45 am, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) will host an event — Accelerating the HFC Phasedown: Examples and Lessons Learned —at the Montreal Protocol Pavilion. You can watch a recording of the event here.

Finance

Financing the transition to energy-efficient cooling for all will require significant investment. Finance for clean cooling will need to come in a range of formats, from funding for demonstration projects and business loans to convert production lines, to consumer finance programs and tax incentives.

Join the Cool Coalition, Clean Cooling Collaborative, and a number of other partners at 9:30 am on December 4 for the Financing Action on Cooling session at the Montreal Protocol Pavilion. You can watch a recording of the event, which featured CCC Director Noah Horowitz, here.

The Montreal Protocol Pavilion will then host an event on financing the food and energy nexus at 10:45 am on December 4. It will be organized by the Global Food Cold Chain Council in partnership with the Cool Coalition and UNEP OzonAction team. You can watch a recording of the event here.

Access

It will not be enough just to develop efficient, climate-friendly cooling solutions. They must be rolled out at scale to ensure those who are heat-vulnerable and need them most have access.

One key way to expand access to sustainable cooling is through passive cooling and nature-based solutions. Join the Cool Coalition and partners at 3.45 pm on December 5 at the UNEP Pavilion for the Passive Cooling and Nature-Based Solutions for Building Comfort session. You can watch a recording of the event here.

Other key events

December 2

• Data to Drive Sustainable Cooling For All – 12 pm at the Montreal Protocol Pavilion (The Cool Coalition and SEforALL). You can watch a recording of the event here.

December 4

• Global Collaboration for Innovation and Sustainable Cooling: Solutions for Market Transformation – 11:30 am in SE Room 8 (NRDC, NEDO, and Griha Council). You can watch a recording of the event here.
• Towards a market transformation in cooling: At the intersection of regulation and financing  – 4:30 pm at the Montreal Protocol Pavilion (U4E and Cool Up). You can watch a recording of the event here.
• Climate Resilience for All launch – 7 pm, December 4 at the Resilience Hub (Climate Resilience for All)

December 5

• The Cool Move! Cold Chain investments in emerging markets to reduce Food Loss and waste – 6 pm at the Montreal Protocol Pavilion (GFCCC, the Cool Coalition, the MLF, and partners). You can watch a recording of the event here.

December 6

• First Movers Country Spotlight on Sustainable Cooling – 11:45 am at the SDG 7 Global South Pavilion (SEforALL and the Cool Coalition)
• Sustainable Food Systems Futures – 1:15 pm in SE Room 8 (Viet Nam, Columbia University, and SACAU). You can watch a recording of the event here.
• Energy Efficiency Outlook to 2100 – 2 pm at the Montreal Protocol Pavilion (GFCCC, the Cool Coalition, AHRI, and UNEP Ozone Secretariat). You can watch a recording of the event here

December 8

• Strengthening the ozone treaty to secure significant greenhouse gas emission reductions into the future – 12 pm at the Montreal Protocol Pavilion (EIA). You can watch a recording of the event here.
• This is Cool Award Ceremony for Youth Innovators – 2:30 pm at the SDG 7 Global South Pavilion (SEforALL)

December 9

• Accelerating the HFC phasedown – Examples and Lessons learnt – 10:45 am at the Montreal Protocol Pavilion (EIA). You can watch a recording of the event here.
• First Movers: Cities Leading from the Front on Sustainable Cooling – 11:30 am at the SDG 7 Global South Pavilion (SEforALL and the Cool Coalition)

December 10

• Improving rural livelihoods with efficient cold chain and cooling appliances – 9 am at the SDG 7 Global South Pavilion (SEforALL, CLASP, BASE, and the World Bank)
• Leapfrog to a sustainable agricultural cold chain in low-income economies – 10:45 am at the Montreal Protocol Pavilion (IIR). You can watch a recording of the event here.
• Cooling a warming world: Sustainable cooling challenges and opportunities in the global south – 11:30 am in SE Room 5 (EIA and CEEW). You can watch a recording of the event here.

A full list of cooling-related events at COP28 can be found here. If you know of any other relevant events that are not included in this list, please email us.

The above includes dates, times, and locations as of the date of the blog release/update. Details are subject to change, and we suggest reaching out to the event organizers or checking the event or pavilion page to confirm.

This is a live document and will be updated as new information becomes available.

Last updated: 12/12/2023