As Africa’s demand for cooling surges with rapid urbanization and rising temperatures, the United Nations Environment Programme’s United for Efficiency (UNEP-U4E) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in collaboration with the East African Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (EACREEE), will host two key events in Nairobi, Kenya, to accelerate the adoption and implementation of energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling appliances in ...Read More
Rwanda Trains Key Stakeholders on Sustainable Cold-Chain Solutions
The Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), in collaboration with UNEP’s United for Efficiency (U4E), held a training workshop under the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Project to strengthen national capacity on sustainable cooling and cold-chain systems. The session brought together 40 participants from government institutions, academia, and the private sector to enhance technical knowledge and support the country’s transition to energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling ...Read More
Cooling for Change: Rwanda Hosts the First-Ever Festival of Cooling
The first-ever Festival of Cooling brought together farmers, students, innovators, and policymakers for a week-long celebration of sustainable cooling at the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES) in Kigali. From October 7–10, the event transformed ACES into a vibrant hub of innovation, creativity, and collaboration, showcasing how cooling can drive climate action, food security, and economic growth across Africa. A Festival with Purpose Unlike a ...Read More
AGORA Project Strengthens Momentum for Sustainable Cooling Solutions in Ghana
In soaring temperatures, how can we make air conditioners accessible to families and small businesses that need them — without putting additional strain on electricity grids or the planet? The Government of Ghana is partnering with UNEP and UNDP to do just that, through the AGORA Project (Abating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Obsolete Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Equipment in West Africa). Building on the success of the ECOFRIDGES model, the initiative uses innovative financial ...Read More
Cutting Food Loss in Kenya with Cold-Chain Solutions
In Kenya’s Kinale region, farmers from the Lari Horticultural Cooperative Society are seeing remarkable benefits from new cold storage facilities and refrigerated vans. Before the project, farmers routinely lost up to 40% of their harvests on the way to market. Now, losses have dropped to just a few per cent, and incomes have increased by around 50%. This success story is part of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold Chains (ACES), a collaborative initiative led by ...Read More
Mauritius Leads the Way in Enforcing SADC Harmonised MEPS for Air Conditioners
Mauritius has become the first country in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to enforce Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for room air conditioners based on the SADC Harmonised MEPS (SADC HT110 on Room Air Conditioners), approved at the regional level in 2023. This groundbreaking move marks a major stride in advancing regional efforts to improve energy efficiency, enhance environmental sustainability, and reduce electricity consumption in Africa’s rapidly expanding ...Read More
August 2025 Issue of the U4E Newsletter Now Available
Stay up to date with the latest developments from U4E. Our quarterly newsletter spotlights global progress in advancing energy efficiency through U4E’s initiatives, tools, and partnerships. The August 2025 issue features: New Sustainable Procurement Guidelines for Data Centres and Servers, and highlights from the global launch webinar ASEAN governments reaffirm cooling commitments at the 2nd ASEAN Regional Workshop in Manila East Africa approves harmonised MEPS for air ...Read More
U4E Highlights Solutions for Climate-Friendly Cooling at OEWG47
UNEP's United for Efficiency (U4E) initiative showcased its leadership in energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling at the 47th Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG47) of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, held from 6 to 11 July 2025, at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. The event drew over 500 participants from governments, academia, industry, and civil society to address pressing global challenges related to refrigerants and cooling technologies. U4E ...Read More
Empowering Farmers Through Sustainable Cold Chains in Kenya
A new article by the Clean Cooling Network highlights the impressive impact of the SPOKE programme in Kenya, which is delivering a 50% increase in return for local farmers. This is made possible through a combination of sustainable cold chain infrastructure, solar-powered cooling technologies, and tailored training in post-harvest handling and marketing. The SPOKE programme (Specialised Outreach and Knowledge Establishment) is part of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable ...Read More
East African Community Approves Regionally Harmonised MEPS for Room Air Conditioners and Residential Refrigerators
The East African Community (EAC) has reached a significant milestone in advancing energy efficiency and sustainable cooling by officially gazetting the EAC regionally harmonised Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and labelling requirements for room air conditioners and residential refrigerators. This landmark decision was endorsed by the East African Standards Committee (EASC) through its Standards Management Committee (SMC) on 26 March 2025 and gazetted by the EAC Council of Ministers ...Read More
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