International Cooperation on Clean Energy and Cooling Solutions

• Quad nations, including Australia, India, Japan, and the US, have issued the Washington Declaration in 2024 focusing on sustainable energy solutions and high-efficiency cooling systems.
• India is leading these efforts with significant investments in solar and cooling infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific region.
• The Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment (2016) set a precedent for global action on cooling-related emissions.
• More efficient cooling systems could deliver about two-thirds of total greenhouse gas reductions by cutting electricity consumption.
• Climate change has heightened threats related to cooling: indirect emissions from inefficient air-conditioning and refrigeration systems powered by fossil fuels, and direct emissions from harmful refrigerants.
• India ratified the Kigali Amendment in 2021, committing to reduce HFCs by 85% by 2047.
• The India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) targets a 20%-25% reduction in cooling demand, 25-40% in energy consumption, and a shift to low-GWP refrigerants.
• International commitments to clean energy cooling are encouraging, but technologies must remain affordable.
• India’s proactive approach to cooling challenges positions it as a global leader in sustainable cooling.