Leading global philanthropic program for climate-friendly cooling poised for accelerated progress to help sector achieve net-zero emissions by 2050

SAN FRANCISCO – August 24, 2021 – ClimateWorks Foundation, a leading global platform for climate philanthropy, today announced that the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program (K-CEP) has changed its name to the Clean Cooling Collaborative. The new name better reflects the program’s growing role in building a global coalition working across policy, finance, and industry to decarbonize the cooling sector by increasing the use of energy-efficient and climate-friendly refrigeration and air conditioning. In addition, Noah Horowitz, a leading expert in energy efficiency, has been named as director of the program. 

The Clean Cooling Collaborative was created in 2017 by leading climate foundations to facilitate efforts under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol to support the implementation of the Montreal Protocol refrigerant phasedown and to advance efficiency. The program has helped place cooling on the global agenda since its inception by catalyzing a vast network of organizations, institutions, companies, and governments to bring efficient, climate-friendly policy and technology solutions to the world.

“As the climate crisis deepens, the need for affordable, climate-friendly cooling is more acute than ever,” said Chris DeCardy, acting CEO of ClimateWorks Foundation. “The Clean Cooling Collaborative is the most successful global philanthropic program focused on reducing emissions in the cooling sector. We’re thrilled to welcome Noah as the new director. With new leadership, a new name, and strong partners, the program is well-positioned to help increase access to efficient, clean cooling for all.” 

Noah Horowitz is a scientist with over three decades of experience in designing collaborative projects between the private and public sectors to advance energy efficiency, climate, and clean energy goals. He is an internationally recognized energy efficiency expert in the areas of consumer electronics and residential lighting and played a leading role in the ongoing phaseout of inefficient incandescent light bulbs around the world. Noah was previously the director of NRDC’s Center for Energy Efficiency Standards, where he led a team that worked to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and the equipment inside them. Before NRDC, he led worldwide environmental programs for Quaker Oats. Noah received a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.

Noah succeeds Jessica Brown as director, who will remain involved with the initiative as an advisor. In his new role, Noah will guide the Clean Cooling Collaborative as it executes a new comprehensive strategy to set the global cooling sector on a pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050. 

Noah added, “I’m honored to be joining the Clean Cooling Collaborative and for the opportunity to help prevent billions of tons of emissions that cause climate change. This program will make peoples’ lives better in so many ways and lead to greater comfort in our buildings, less food waste, lower utility bills, improved air quality, and fewer future power outages. I’ve long admired the Collaborative’s systems-based approach to engagement, which has resulted in incredible momentum on cooling worldwide, and I’m excited to be working with the team to build on the impact they’ve achieved to date.”

“The work of the Clean Cooling Collaborative is critical to paving the way for efficient and life-saving cooling in the regions and communities that need it the most,” said Sonia Medina, executive director of climate at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF). “As an early supporter of the initiative and an organization committed to supporting systemic change that improves children’s lives, we look forward to our continued partnership with the Clean Cooling Collaborative and working with Noah in his new capacity as director.”

About ClimateWorks Foundation

ClimateWorks Foundation is a global platform for philanthropy to innovate and accelerate climate solutions that scale. We deliver global programs and services that equip philanthropy with the knowledge, networks, and solutions to drive climate progress. Since 2008, ClimateWorks has granted over $1 billion to more than 500 grantees in over 40 countries.

About Clean Cooling Collaborative

Clean Cooling Collaborative is making climate-friendly cooling accessible to all. A philanthropic initiative of ClimateWorks Foundation launched in 2017 as the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program (K-CEP), the Clean Cooling Collaborative focuses on super-efficient refrigeration and space cooling equipment, climate-friendly refrigerants, passive cooling, and integrated solutions that cool people and the planet.