UNEP launched the NDC Cooling Guidelines 2025
Kartavya Desk Staff
Syllabus: Environment
Source: UNEP
Context: The UNEP launched the NDC Cooling Guidelines 2025 to help countries integrate sustainable cooling into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), addressing rising emissions and heat-related vulnerabilities.
About UNEP launched the NDC Cooling Guidelines 2025:
• What it is? A global framework offering countries a structured process to include cooling measures in climate plans (NDCs) to balance mitigation, adaptation, and development goals.
• A global framework offering countries a structured process to include cooling measures in climate plans (NDCs) to balance mitigation, adaptation, and development goals.
• Developed by: UNEP Cool Coalition NDC Working Group with partners like UNDP.
• Objectives:
• Integrate sustainable cooling in NDCs. Cut sector emissions by 60% by 2050. Improve access to life-saving cooling for 1.1 billion people. Strengthen MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) for cooling measures. Align with Kigali Amendment and Global Cooling Pledge.
• Integrate sustainable cooling in NDCs.
• Cut sector emissions by 60% by 2050.
• Improve access to life-saving cooling for 1.1 billion people.
• Strengthen MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) for cooling measures.
• Align with Kigali Amendment and Global Cooling Pledge.
Data & Stats from the Report:
• Cooling = 7% of global GHG emissions today and could exceed 10% by 2050.
• 1.1 billion people lack access to cooling, risking lives, food security, and health.
• Cooling uses 20% of building electricity worldwide and over 50% in UAE buildings.
• By doubling appliance efficiency, cooling access can grow 6 times without proportional rise in emissions.
Key Challenges to Cooling Worldwide:
• High Emissions: Without urgent interventions, cooling-related emissions could double by 2050, exacerbating climate change and energy demand.
• Access Gaps: Over 1.1 billion people globally lack affordable access to sustainable cooling, putting lives, food security, and healthcare at risk.
• Vicious Cooling Cycle: Rising heat drives demand for inefficient cooling, which increases emissions — a self-reinforcing “vicious cycle” of climate impacts.
• Policy Gaps: Only 27% of updated NDCs include concrete energy efficiency targets for cooling, revealing gaps in national climate planning.
• Gender Inequity: Women, particularly in rural and low-income settings, face higher health risks from inadequate cooling and extreme heat.
UNEP Cooling Guidelines Summary:
Six-Stage Action Framework
• Baseline Definition: Countries must assess current HFC emissions and energy use in the cooling sector to identify priority actions.
• Target Formulation: Set measurable, time-bound cooling targets aligned with their NDCs to guide policy and investment.
• MRV Systems: Develop robust Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) tools to transparently track progress and outcomes.
• Policy Actions: Adopt Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), Kigali-compliant refrigerant phase-down, urban greening, and passive cooling.
• Governance: Create cross-ministerial, gender-responsive coordination mechanisms for effective cooling policy implementation.
• Finance & Access: Mobilise finance and prioritise policies to ensure equitable access to affordable, sustainable cooling technologies.
Country Examples:
• Nigeria: Integrated National Cooling Action Plan (NCAP) into NDCs with focus on heat-resilient rural infrastructure.
• UAE: Prioritised district cooling systems and highly energy-efficient ACs in NDC 3.0 roadmap.
• Grenada: Committed to becoming the world’s first HFC-free nation by targeting complete phase-down
Conclusion:
The UNEP NDC Cooling Guidelines empower nations to transform cooling from a growing climate risk into an opportunity for equitable low-carbon growth. Integrating sustainable cooling in NDCs ensures climate resilience, human well-being, and progress towards SDGs. This is vital for India and global South nations facing extreme heat challenges.