On 19 October 2021, cold chain experts conducted a virtual summit for African policymakers and business leaders to explore sustainable solutions to help keep farmers’ produce fresh and get it to market quickly and efficiently – reducing food waste, boosting profits and creating jobs. The online event on Accelerating Sustainable Cold Chain in Africa highlighted the latest developments of the African Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES). In addition to helping ...Read More
Leapfrogging to Energy-efficient and Climate-friendly Commercial Refrigerating Appliances in Brazil
The Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) United for Efficiency (U4E) initiative are pleased to announce the start of a new, two-year project to help Brazil make the transition to energy-efficient and more climate-friendly commercial refrigerators. The project will provide a significant contribution to Brazil’s National Determination Contribution goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 37% below 2005 levels, with 10% efficiency gains. ...Read More
ECOFRIDGES GO Online Shop is Now Available for Consumers to Finance New Fridges and ACs at 0% Interest
As part of its Green On-Wage (GO) financial mechanism, ECOFRIDGES GO is pleased to announce the launch of its online store, which allows Ghanaians to order energy-efficient and environmentally friendly refrigerators and air conditioners. The ECOWAS Refrigerators and Air Conditioners Initiative is collaborating with CalBank Plc, Ecobank Ghana Limited, Letshego Ghana Savings and Loans Plc to provide low-interest loans to eligible salaried employees, and with the following vendors Ederick Limited, ...Read More
Applying Government’s Purchasing Power to Jump-start Sustainability
On the 2-3 June 2021, United for Efficiency (U4E) hosted a series of workshops on Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) for lighting and cooling appliances. SPP is a process whereby public sector organisations meet their needs for goods and services in a way that achieves the best value for money on a whole life basis for the organisation and society. Three dimensions – environmental, social and economic – form the pillars of an SPP programme. The events gathered 57 participants, including ...Read More
ECOFRIDGES Senegal, a new financing mechanism launched by l’Agence pour l’Economie et la Maitrise de l’Energie and la Direction de l’Environnement et des Etablissement Classes in partnership with UNEP, BASE, Senelec, La Banque Agricole, Electronic Corp and SENFROID to ensure Senegalese access to sustainable cooling
Energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly refrigerators and air conditioners will be widely accessible and more affordable in Senegal through a new funding mechanism. ECOWAS Refrigerators and Air Conditioners Initiative (ECOFRIDGES) Senegal, coordinated by the Agency for the Economy and the Control of Energy (AEME) and the Directorate of the Environment and Classified Establishments (DEEC), collaborates with Senelec, La Banque Agricole as a partner bank, and Electronic Corp and SENFROID as ...Read More
Africa’s Sustainable Cooling Centre Gets Multi-million Funding Boost
The new Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold Chain (ACES) has taken a major step forward in Rwanda with a $3.5 (£2.4 million) million funding boost. The UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) earmarked this contribution for the Centre’s design and technology kit-out, supporting the work of British universities (Birmingham, Heriot-Watt, Cranfield, London South Bank), the University of Rwanda and its hiring of the first-ACES ...Read More
Jamaica’s National Cooling Strategy Prepared for Cabinet Submission
Developed as part of the Caribbean Cooling Initiative (C-COOL), Jamaica’s National Cooling Strategy (JNCS) looks set to become the second such strategy adopted in the region, after a final refinement of its recommendations was undertaken by various inter-agency working groups prior to its submission to Cabinet. The commitment demonstrated by Jamaica as it enters the final stage toward approval, and subsequent implementation, is an excellent example for other countries seeking to meet their ...Read More
The Dominican Republic, seeking greater ambition in the fight against climate change, defines new actions in the field of refrigeration and air conditioning
The government of the Dominican Republic has defined ambitious actions on refrigeration and air conditioning as a result of a successful process to improve and update the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) that involved all stakeholders in the Dominican territory. The NDC-RD 2020 was submitted to the UNFCCC in December 2020. The Dominican Republic is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of global climate change[1] given its status as an island country, its humid tropical climate, and its ...Read More
REMA and UNEP U4E Launch Efficient Cooling Awareness Campaign
The Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) today launched a campaign to raise awareness of why, and how, to opt for refrigerators and air conditioners that save energy and money, rather than inefficient cooling solutions. The campaign, in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme’s United for Efficiency team, is part of the Rwanda Cooling Initiative (R-COOL). R-COOL developed, and is now implementing, a National Cooling Strategy (NCS) on how to cost effectively switch ...Read More
Africa’s Clean Cooling Centre of Excellence Moves Closer to Boosting Farmer’s Livelihoods
The Rwandan Government has formally launched the new African Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold Chain (ACES) that is hosted in-country by the University of Rwanda. At the inception meeting, a high-level cross-department team was established to lead the Centre’s development. In collaboration with the core technical partners - the University of Birmingham and UN Environment Programme’s United for Efficiency (UNEP U4E) - progress in setting up the centre has quickened with the ...Read More