Cool Contributions fighting Climate Change (C4)

Project description

Title: Cool Contributions fighting Climate Change (C4): Advancing nationally determined contributions (NDCs) through climate-friendly cooling
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conserva-tion and Nuclear Safety (BMU)
Countries: Cuba, Grenada, Costa Rica, Philippines, Viet Nam, Iran
Lead executing agencies: Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Viet Nam; Climate Change Commission, Philippines; Department of Environment, Islamic Republic of Iran; Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía, Costa Rica (Ministry of Environment and Energy); Ministry of Finance and Energy, Grenada; Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología y Medio Ambiente, Cuba (Ministry of Science, Technology and Environ-ment, Cuba)
Overall term: 2016 to 2021

Context

The continuously growing demand for cooling, particularly in developing countries and emerging economies, will result in significantly increased emissions from this sector in the coming decades. This applies both to emissions caused by energy consumption and the emissions of released coolants.
Fluorinated gases (also known as HFCs) that have a high global warming potential are often used as coolants in the cooling and air conditioning sector. With the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, it was decided that these HFCs should be gradually phased out. Energy-efficient cooling systems with natural coolants have the potential to reduce emissions in a costeffective manner. The cooling and air conditioning sector also plays an important role in the achievement of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that were committed to in the 2015 Paris Agreement. Little attention has been paid to the cooling and air conditioning sector and the associated emissions so far in the plan-ning of NDCs.

Objective

HFCs are controlled on an international basis. Various initiatives are campaigning jointly for ozone protection and climate change mitigation and are working together more effectively, which is helping to reduce climate-damaging coolants and to promote energy efficiency.
The partner countries have integrated measures for the reduction of emissions in the cooling and air conditioning sector into their NDCs. Energy-efficient cooling systems with natural, environmentally friendly coolants have become established on the market as a result of improved framework conditions.

Approach

The project is helping to advance climate-friendly solutions in the cooling and air conditioning sector at national and international levels.
A broad range of initiatives are working together more effectively to achieve comprehensive international control of HFCs: overlaps are being reduced and financial supports harmonised. The project is also supporting the process by means of policy advice, the establishment of expert groups and regular dialogue.
The project advises the energy and environment ministries of the partner countries on the development of sustainable strategies for cooling and air conditioning as a contribution to NDCs. Factors such as improved framework conditions are encouraging the partner countries to use natural coolants and foaming agents.
GIZ and its partners are quantifying controlled substances in the partner countries in the form of taking inventory, analysing previous legislation on cooling and air conditioning, providing support with the identification of reduction scenarios and strengthening national capacities in strategy development and implementation.
The project is also advising partner countries on what positions to adopt on international committees and providing support with the quantification of national emissions. All of this is improving policy and transformation processes relating to integrated ozone protection and climate change mitigation; the implementation of international control of HFCs is being accelerated.
Partner countries’ climate change mitigation and ozone protection plans and measures are being presented in an inclusive manner for a broad audience at regional and global levels. The project is achieving a multiplier effect thanks to institutionalised structures and networks.

Results

  • Reports and studies on greenhouse gases (GHGs) show how important cooling and climate technology is for climate change mitigation at national and international levels. These publications provide comprehensive knowledge and serve as a basis for advisory services to politi-cians, industry and society as a whole for the planning of NDCs.
  • 22 regional workshops and three webinars have been carried out to foster exchange on methods and analyses and on keeping GHG inventories and NDC strategy development in the cooling/climate sector.
  • 32 cooling technician trainers have received supplementary training on the professional installation and repair of energy-efficient air conditioning systems with natural coolants.
  • Energy-efficient and climate-friendly air conditioning technology has been installed in the Philippines and Grenada for demonstration and training purposes.
  • Around 20 policy advisors and cooling technicians have participated in ‘Cool Training’ in Germany.
  • The Philippines and Viet Nam are taking climate targets and plans for the cooling and air conditioning sector into account in their Nationally Determined Contributions.

Additional information