Energy efficiency, climate-friendly cooling for a just and equitable energy transition

Date: 25 October 2023

Time: 15:25- 16:35 EST

Location: Contadora III, Marriott Panama Hotel, Panama City

This is an official Track 1 Event to the Latin America and the Caribbean Climate Week 2023. Live streaming link forthcoming. 

The Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region is facing the adverse consequences of climate change, including rising temperatures and an increased frequency of heatwaves. Higher temperatures are triggering a notable increase in peak electricity demand during summer with more extensive use of air conditioners in the region. Access to sustainable cooling solutions is therefore crucial for ensuring the well-being, productivity, and resilience of communities and economies.

Yet, 65.5 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean do not have access to cooling. We need to increase access to those who don’t have access to safe food and medicine or to protect themselves against extreme heat. In a hungry world, an estimated 14 per cent of total food produced is lost before it reaches the consumer, due to inadequate refrigeration and cold chains. To address these challenges, there is a pressing need for an increased understanding of the importance of sustainable cooling within LAC's climate action agenda.

Against this backdrop and recognizing the adaptation and mitigation benefits of sustainable cooling, the COP28 Presidency of the United Arab Emirates is spearheading the Global Cooling Pledge with support from the UNEP-led Cool Coalition.  The implementation of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) could avoid up to 0.5 °C of global warming by the end of this century. By achieving the Global Cooling Pledge, the climate benefits can be doubled while saving 86 billion tonnes CO2e between now-2050, improving the lives of hundreds of millions, and realizing huge financial savings.

This event aims to demonstrate leadership and progress from the LAC region in accelerating the transition to sustainable cooling in the run up to a Cool COP28. It will showcase regional commitments to the Global Cooling Pledge and will include high-level interventions from countries, industry and international financial institutions on their actions on sustainable cooling and their perspectives on the Global Cooling Pledge ahead of COP28.