ROME, ITALY Global leaders gathered for the 31st Meeting of the Parties (MOP) to theMontreal Protocolin Rome this week to continue preparations for the implementation of the Kigali Amendment, the global deal to phase down and reduce reliance on heat-trapping hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) over the next few decades. HFCs are potent greenhouse gases used in air conditioning and refrigeration, for making insulating foams, and in some aerosols and other products. Though only 1-2% of total annual greenhouse gas emissions, HFCs are the fastest growing climate pollutants because of the skyrocketing demand for air conditioning and refrigeration in developing markets such as India.

Several countries are showcasing domestic action towards sustainable and climate friendly cooling by developing their national level cooling action plans.India is one of the first countries to release its India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP), earlier in 2019, which lays out detailed, cross-sectoral policy plans that will ensure that growing cooling demand can be met more sustainably in the country.

The Indian government, along with experts from civil society partner organizations, shared the story of the development of the ICAP, at the side event titled Facilitating the Implementation of the India Cooling Action Plan, at the 31st MOP in Rome this week.

The side event organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) also highlighted the evolving implementation strategies for the ICAP, as it enters its implementation phase, now.

Some of the key issues highlighted at the side-event were the need for strong stakeholder engagement, synchronization in the policies, access and assimilation of technologies, and access to finance for facilitating the implementation of the ICAP.

Ms Geeta Menon, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, nodal agency for the preparation of the ICAP, delivered the keynote address at the event, highlighting the process of the development of the ICAP and the plans of the Ministry to ensure effective and timely implementation going forward. Ms Menon, said, Synergistic actions are more effective than actions taken in isolation. MoEFCC will be working closely with other ministries and also state and city governments for effective implementation of the ICAP.

The event also provided an opportunity to discuss and get feedback from international cooling stakeholders, such as governments, civil society, academia, industry and senior experts, on prioritizing activities to maximize the impact of the ICAP.

Mr R R Rashmi, Distinguished Fellow, TERI said, The ICAP is a very unique initiative, as it brings together different aspects of cooling being looked at by different parts of the government. While devising implementation strategies, it is thus also important to harmonize actions in way to bring together the bottom up and top down approaches to achieve the goals of the ICAP.

There is momentum both at international and national levels to develop mechanisms for ensuring implementation of the Kigali Amendment, which came into force in January 2019, said David Doniger, Senior Strategic Director, Climate & Clean Energy Program at NRDC. Several countries are showcasing domestic action towards sustainable cooling by debuting their national level cooling action plans.China, Rwanda and India have released national cooling action plans, laying out detailed, cross-sectoral policy plans. Plans like these will help ensure that growing cooling demand can be met more sustainably,

"India is the first country to have developed a national cooling action plan, in line with its climate commitments and development priorities. It is important to recognise that India is not only the first nation to design a truly ambitious and targeted ICAP, it is also a testimony to the fact that cooling is cross-sectoral subject. This multi-sectoral plan holds immense potential to unlock opportunities in industrial competitiveness, energy efficiency, and food security while enhancing human well-being and boosting economic growth. We need to now bring together stakeholders across government, international agencies, think-tanks, R&D facilities, industry and civil society. Each has a complementary role in ensuring that there is coherence in top-down policies and bottom-up actions to meet Indias cooling demand in a socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable manner. The successful implementation of the ICAP could serve as a blueprint for several other countries grappling with the paradox of cooling more, with less warming. said Arunabha Ghosh, Chief Executive Office, The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).

According to Dr. Satish Kumar, President and Executive Director of the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), ICAP is a bold response from Indias Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) indicative of our country prioritizing nationally determined Climate Action goals in alignment with Indias sustainable growth aspiration. Prioritizing reduction of 20-25% in overall cooling demand, 25-40% in cooling energy requirements and 25-30% in refrigerant demand by 2037-38 at its core ICAP really is about the quality of life and productivity of people of India. ICAP is an exemplary showcase of triple-sector leadership from the government, private and civil society and I hope that we will continue to work together, as silos could risk progress in implementation.

Mr Bhambure, Head ODS Committee, Refrigeration and Airconditioning Manufacturers (RAMA) Association (RAMA) also present at the event highlighted, Industry is committed to the noble cause of conservation of energy to reduce the impact on environment. It will take a holistic approach in evaluating emerging and alternative technologies to provide sustainable, climate friendly, safe and affordable solutions to consumers.

At the event, TERI, AEEE, CEEW & NRDC also made an announcement of a civil society consortium that has been brought together to facilitate the implementation of critical activities under the ICAP. The consortium will work to support the government in implementation of prioritized short- and medium-term interventions identified in the ICAP over the next four-year period with initial support from the Children Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF).

As global temperatures continue to rise, cooling becomes crucial to provide thermal comfort for improving quality of life of populations, especially children and maintaining efficient cold supply chains critical for food security. We congratulate Government of India for launch of the India Cooling Action Plan, a cross sectoral policy that will ensure sustainable and climate friendly cooling in the country. We are extremely excited to facilitate ICAPs implementation initiated as a civil society and think-tanks initiative said, Sonia Medina, Executive Director, CIFF.

CIFF has been supporting cooling efficiency since 2009 with focus on HFC phasedown and transition to energy efficient cooling through the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Programme (KCEP). At the recent UN Climate Action Summit in September 2019, CIFF made an additional pledge for a global cooling efficiency, with deep dive focus on India and China.

The detailed ICAP is here.

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Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE) is a policy advocacy and energy efficiency market enabler with a not-for-profit motive. It is the only organization in India which advocates energy efficiency as a resource and collaborates with diverse stakeholders such as policymakers, government officials, business and industry, consumers, researchers, and civil society organizations. AEEE advocates for data driven and evidence-based energy efficiency policies that will unleash innovation and entrepreneurship within the country to create a culture of energy-efficiency in the country. The goal is to transform the market for energy-efficient products and services, thereby contributing towards meeting Indias goals on energy security, clean energy and climate action.

The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) is one of South Asias leading not-for-profit policy research institutions. The Council uses data, integrated analysis, and strategic outreach to explain and change the use, reuse, and misuse of resources. It prides itself on the independence of its high-quality research, develops partnerships with public and private institutions, and engages with wider public. In 2019, CEEW once again featured extensively across nine categories in the 2018 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report. The Council has also been consistently ranked among the worlds top climate change think tanks. Follow us on Twitter @CEEWIndia for the latest updates.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international non-profit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the worlds natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDCs India Program on Climate Change and Clean Energy, launched in 2009, works with local partners to help build a low-carbon, sustainable economy. http://www.nrdc.org Twitter @NRDC_India

TERI is an independent, multi-dimensional organization, with capabilities in research, policy, consultancy and implementation. TERI is innovators and agents of change in the energy, environment, climate change and sustainability space, having pioneered conversations and action in these areas for over four decades.

Resource efficiency and waste management are the keys to smart, sustainable and inclusive development. Its work across sectors is focused on

Its research, and research-based solutions have had a transformative impact on industry as well as communities. Headquartered in New Delhi, it has regional centres and campuses in Gurugram, Bengaluru, Guwahati, Mumbai, Panaji, and Nainital. Its 1200-plus team of scientists, sociologists, economists and engineers delivers insightful, high quality action-oriented research and transformative solutions supported

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