Cooling the Planet Responsibly

Introduction: Cooling in a Warming World

Climate change is no longer a forecast—it is a lived experience. As global temperatures climb and heatwaves intensify, the demand for reliable cooling is becoming a public health imperative and an infrastructure necessity.

From vaccine preservation in remote clinics to productivity in high-rise office buildings, modern economies and vulnerable populations alike depend on cooling systems. Yet this very dependence poses a paradox: cooling mitigates the symptoms of climate change but often contributes to its cause through inefficient systems and climate-damaging refrigerants.

For governments and policy leaders, the central question is no longer whether to invest in cooling, but how to make it sustainable, inclusive, and climate-aligned.

Why Cooling Must Evolve

By 2050, an estimated 5.6 billion people will live in regions where cooling is essential for survival. Already, South Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Sub-Saharan Africa are experiencing sharp increases in heat-related mortality, food spoilage, and productivity losses.

Unregulated expansion of conventional HVACR (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration) technologies threatens:

• Unsustainable spikes in electricity demand
• Escalating emissions from high-GWP refrigerants
• Grid instability, especially in low- and middle-income countries

Governments must urgently respond with a dual focus: expanding access to cooling while reducing its environmental footprint.

Government Incentives Driving Change

Many countries, recognizing the looming crisis, are rolling out policy frameworks and financial incentives to support the transition to efficient, climate-friendly cooling solutions.

Governments and developers are now exploring models like cooling as a service (CaaS), where infrastructure providers manage and operate energy-efficient cooling technologies, reducing capital costs for end users.

1. Regulatory Tools

Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS):
Countries like India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan have introduced MEPS for air conditioners and refrigerators, helping phase out inefficient models from the market.

National Cooling Action Plans (NCAPs):
India led the way with its 2019 NCAP, followed by similar efforts across the region. These blueprints align national policies with global climate agreements like the Kigali Amendment under the Montreal Protocol.

Import Restrictions on High-GWP Refrigerants:
Through licensing and quota systems, many countries are restricting imports of refrigerants like R-22 and promoting alternatives like R-32, ammonia, and CO₂.

2. Financial & Tax Incentives

Green Building Subsidies:
Malaysia, Thailand, and the UAE offer rebates and low-interest financing for developers meeting green building certifications (LEED, EDGE, etc.).

Solar Cooling Subsidies:
Pakistan's Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) and various provincial energy departments are piloting solar HVAC grants in rural and peri-urban areas.

Carbon Market Mechanisms:
Through voluntary carbon credits and Article 6 frameworks under the Paris Agreement, countries are incentivizing clean cooling investments by enabling international financing for verified GHG reductions.

Success Stories: Where Policy and Practice Align

Technology and Market Innovations

Refrigerant Shift and Kigali Amendment Implementation

Transitioning from high-GWP refrigerants like R-22 to natural and low-GWP alternatives is accelerating.

Governments can ease this shift through tax exemptions, training programs, and infrastructure for safe handling and recovery.

Smart cooling systems, powered by IoT and AI, offer real-time optimization and can cut energy use by up to 30% in commercial buildings. These innovations are transforming the way sustainable HVAC design is approached in hot-climate regions.

Efficiency Through Smart Cooling Systems and Sustainable HVAC Design

Inverter-based systems and VRF are now mainstream, but adoption remains slow in budget-sensitive markets.

Digital monitoring, AI control, and predictive maintenance can enhance savings but require policy support for smart metering and IoT integration.

Passive and Hybrid Cooling

Rooftop reflectivity incentives, cool roof mandates, and building codes that integrate cross-ventilation, green walls, and shading devices can halve cooling loads.

Barriers and Institutional Challenges

Despite the momentum, the cooling transition faces systemic hurdles:

• High upfront costs for efficient systems remain a barrier for households and SMEs.
• Lack of enforcement in building energy codes and product labeling limits market transformation.
• Skilled workforce shortages slow the deployment of advanced systems.
• Weak inter-agency coordination often fragments national strategies.

These issues underscore the need for a whole-of-government approach involving energy, environment, health, housing, and industrial development departments.

Community-Level Innovation: Cooling for All

Beyond buildings and industries, the cooling revolution must extend to underserved and vulnerable communities.

• Community Cooling Hubs: Shared, solar-powered air-conditioned spaces in low-income neighborhoods can provide daytime relief during extreme heat.
• Thermal Storage Initiatives: Pilots in Southeast Asia demonstrate that ice-based storage systems can drastically reduce peak demand in commercial districts.
• Behavioral Nudges: Public campaigns encouraging thermostat settings at 26°C and promoting shade, insulation, and maintenance can lead to significant energy savings.

International Partnerships: The Way Forward

Global support is critical to scaling national efforts. Multilateral initiatives such as:

• UNEP Cool Coalition
• Clean Cooling Partnership (UK, US, and private sector donors)
• Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)

are providing technical assistance, blended finance, and policy toolkits to support sustainable cooling transitions. Global collaboration also supports Kigali Amendment implementation, ensuring a coordinated transition away from high-GWP refrigerants through training, monitoring, and financing frameworks.

Regional cooperation among South Asian countries can also play a powerful role in accelerating knowledge exchange, fostering innovation, and developing localized solutions tailored to shared climatic and infrastructural challenges.