World Refrigeration Day

The “coolest” day of the year is on 26th June;  that is when individuals, governments, organizations and companies worldwide celebrate World Refrigeration Day (WRD). World Refrigeration Day raises awareness and understanding of the significant role that the refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat-pump industry and its technology play in modern life. The science, engineering, and application of cooling touches our lives in many ways, making hot climates habitable, allowing for storage and delivery of fresh food, giving us productive work and learning spaces, enabling the manufacture of products and the operation of data centres in thermally controlled environments, and preserving medicines and other essentials for healthy living. June 26th is the birth date of Lord Kelvin, after whom the absolute temperature scale is named.

As part of 2020 celebrations of the World Refrigeration Day; the WRD Secretariat, ASHRAE, European Partnership for Energy and Environment (EPEE), International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), UNEP OzonAction, and in cooperation with Global Food Cold Chain Council (GFCCC); campaigned to address the importance of Cold Chain sector and its vital role to food safety and sectary as well as public health of human being. The joint Campaign was titled: “COLD CHAIN 4 LIFE”.

One of the key functions under the campaign was an International Webinar aiming at bringing the attention of public, policy-makers and end-users about technology, food waste/loss, health, environment and energy considerations associated with the Cold Chain sectors and advocating for best practices in relation to technology selection decision making, minimizing food waste/loss in the supply chain process, stimulate wise selection of technology, minimize leakage of refrigerants and maximizing energy efficiency.

The partners of the campaign prepared a Celebration Kit of materials and useful references to assist National Ozone Units (NOUs), government entities, local/regional associations, and industry to celebrate the 2020 WRD. The Celebration Kit and useful references are listed at the bottom of this page.  

An International Webinar under the theme of ‘Cold Chain 4 Life’ was also planned for the 26 June 2020.

Relevant stakeholders were encouraged to use the opportunity of WRD to raise awareness and understanding of the significant role that the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry, and the associated science and technology play in modern life and society in a safe and responsible manner that is fully compliant with local regulations and aligned to all safety measures. Stakeholders got the opportunity to share their creative thoughts, as well as learn about the many ways they can promote our industry, its applications and careers.

The registration details to the webinar was in this> link.

Celebration Kit

• Information Note
• Ideas for celebrating WRD (while respecting limitations presented by the global pandemic)
• Infographic Brochure (in six UN languages)
• Poster (in six UN languages)
• Sticker (in six UN languages)
• Web-Ads (for posting an ‘advertisement’ for 2020 WRD on Web and Social Media)

Other Useful References

• EPEE- Count on Cooling Flyer (EN) 
• EPEE – Count on Cooling White Paper (EN) 
• IIR- Inf. Note Role of Refrigeration in Global Economy (EN)
• IIR- Inf. Note Role of Refrigeration in Global Economy (FR)
• IIR- Inf. Note Role of Refrigeration in Nutrition (EN)
• IIR- Inf. Note Role of Refrigeration in Nutrition (FR)
• IIR-UNEP Cold Chain Technology Brief - Cold Storage and Refrigerated Warehouse (EN | FR | SP)
• IIR-UNEP Cold Chain Technology Brief - Commercial, Professional and Domestic Refrigeration (EN | FR | SP)
• IIR-UNEP Cold Chain Technology Brief - Fishing Vessel Application (EN | FR | SP) 
• IIR-UNEP Cold Chain Technology Brief - Refrigeration in Food Production and Processing (EN | FR | SP)
• IIR-UNEP Cold Chain Technology Brief - Transport Refrigeration (EN | | FR | SP)
• UNEP OzonAction Scoop - Refrigeration and food security (EN)
• UNEP OzonAction Scoop - Extending the Shelf Life of Cut Flowers and Fresh Produce (EN)
• FAO Report – The State of Food and Agriculture, Moving forward on food loss and waste reduction (EN)
• FAO Flyer - Moving forward on food loss and waste reduction (EN) 
• FAO Policy Brief - How to reduce food loss and waste for food security and environmental sustainability (EN)

Related News:

• UNEP OzonAction Encourages Everyone to Celebrate World Refrigeration Day 2020
• IIR and UNEP OzonAction release the French and Spanish versions of the ‘Cold Chain Technology Briefs’

Connect with the cold chain campaign at #COLDCHAIN4LIFE and with World Refrigeration Day at #WREFD20.

For more information, please contact For information please contact James Curlin at (Jim.Curlin[at]un.org) I Ayman Eltalouny at (Ayman.Eltalouny[at]un.org) I Anne  Fenner at Anne.Fenner[atun.org.

Happy World Refrigeration Day!