Rwanda is advancing toward sustainable and climate-friendly cooling through a week of technical and stakeholder engagement activities held from 25–28 March in Kigali. The efforts are part of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Project, “Rwanda Cooling Initiative: Enabling Deployment of Energy-Efficient and Climate-Friendly Cooling.” Led by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme’s United for Efficiency (U4E) ...Read More
Festival of Cooling: Advancing Sustainable Cold-chain in Rwanda this September
The Clean Cooling Network and the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES) are hosting the "Festival of Cooling" from 22-26 September 2025 at the ACES Campus in Kigali, Rwanda. The event will promote sustainable cold chain solutions through awareness, capacity building, and collaboration. Bringing together key stakeholders from across sectors, the festival will tackle the challenges and unlock the opportunities within the cold chain. More than a one-off ...Read More
DECEMBER 2024 ISSUE OF THE U4E NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE
Stay informed with the latest updates from U4E. Our quarterly newsletter highlights the progress of U4E projects, newly released resources, and innovative tools driving energy efficiency worldwide. The December 2024 issue features: Insights from the U4E Partners' Meeting Advancements in sustainable cooling initiatives across West Africa Highlights from the Ghana Study Tour to support MEPS implementation for cooling in The Gambia Updates on MEPS progress ...Read More
UK Minister visits Cold-Chain Centre and new technologies to support food security in Rwanda
In early September, the UK Minister for Africa, Lord Collins, visited the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES) in Kigali, Rwanda during the Africa Food Systems Annual Summit to get a closer look at new solutions to underpin food security, economic stability, and public health in the country. Officially launched in 2020, the Programme has been enabled by over $20m of funding from the UK Government. ACES is a collaborative effort led by UNEP U4E in ...Read More
Rwanda’s Environment Minister Formally Opens Africa’s Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain Centre
The 4-6 March 2024 saw a significant milestone for the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain (ACES) with the Phase 1 launch event marking the official opening of the ACES headquarters on the Rubirizi Campus in Kigali. Led by Rwanda's Minister of Environment, Hon. Minister Dr. Jeanne D'Arc Mujawamariya: "The launch of ACES represents a pivotal moment in our journey towards sustainable cooling solutions. By collaborating across sectors, we can address pressing ...Read More
African Farming Communities Kick-start Cold-chain in Continent
Farmers, fishers and community leaders from across Rwanda are joining sustainable cooling experts to begin an innovative training programme that will kick-start roll-out of clean cold-chain systems in Africa. Over 100 farmers, fishers and community leaders will work with experts from the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES) in the launch of its flagship training and knowledge building programme, where they will learn how clean-cold technology can ...Read More
New GCF Readiness Programme Funding to Support Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Cooling in Rwanda
At a workshop in Kigali at the end of May, the Government of Rwanda, through the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), announced funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Programme which will contribute to the implementation of appliance standards, a product registration system and related aspects of the Rwanda Cooling Initiative (R-COOL), as well as operationalisation of the first Rwandan SPOKE (Specialized Outreach and Knowledge Establishment) of the Africa Centre of ...Read More
Funding to Help Developing Countries Phase Out Use of Damaging Climate Gases Announced
Developing countries will receive £4 million to drive down the emissions of harmful hydrofluorocarbons generated by outdated air conditioning units, cooling refrigeration and cold supply chains, the UK government announced on 20 April 2023 ahead of a reception in No.10 Downing Street for climate scientists serving on the Independent Assessment Panels for the UN Montreal Protocol, along with members of the United Nations Environment Programme United for Efficiency (UNEP U4E) African Centre of ...Read More
ACES Stakeholders Convene in the UK for Strategic Discussions
This month key stakeholders in the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain (ACES) convened in the UK to finalize immediate actions to operationalize the centre, exchange insights, and build strategic networks with government officials, industry, and academia. ACES is based in Kigali, Rwanda, and its aim is to accelerate the deployment of sustainable cold-chain solutions in Africa to improve livelihoods, health, food and nutritional security. This will be achieved ...Read More
REMA, Defra and IFC Sign a Statement of Cooperation on the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain
On behalf of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES), the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) for the Rwanda Ministry of Environment, and the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) were pleased to sign a statement of cooperation with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) at COP27. This statement expresses the intent to facilitate collaboration with innovators participating in the IFC’s TechEmerge Sustainable ...Read More
