20 to 22nd October 2020 - UNFCCC and GIZ team up in the Caribbean to deliver virtual training on cooling systems
On the process of setting up a sector inventory and a Green Cooling Action Plan in the Caribbean
The warm tropical climate of the Caribbean makes the use of cooling systems essential, whether it is to keep food fresh or cool down homes and workplaces with air conditioners. Unfortunately, the refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) sector greatly contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to energy inefficient appliances and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) which are commonly used refrigerants that have a high global warming potential (GWP). The RAC sector is an important area to target for the implementation of emission reduction strategies. In fact, by 2030 the cooling sector will account for 13% of global greenhouse gas emissions, illustrating how RAC is one of the key sectors in climate change (Green Cooling Initiative, 2020).
To this end, an interactive virtual training was carried out by GIZ Proklima in collaboration with the UNFCCC-RCC/Caribbean Cooperative MRV Hub (CCMRVH). Speakers at the training were Lara Teutsch (GIZ Proklima, Germany), Curllan Bhola (GIZ Proklima, Grenada), Vintura Silva (UNFCCC/CCMRVH), Irene Papst (technical expert at HEAT GmbH, commissioned by GIZ), Leslie Smith (NOU Grenada), and Marco Duran (U4E). The event was facilitated by Julia Schabel and Janna Breitfeld (GIZ Proklima).
The two-day online training held on 20 and 22 October had about 35 participants representing Caribbean countries and regional organisations in attendance each day. The training exposed participants to the process of setting up a RAC sector inventory and how to develop a Green Cooling Action Plan in the Caribbean context.
One of the core tasks in this process is to set up a RAC greenhouse gas inventory as a basis for target-oriented policymaking. The inventory serves as a starting point for emission reduction strategies by supporting identification of sector priorities and evidence-based decision-making. GIZ Proklima has carried out RAC inventories in various countries before, including Colombia, Costa Rica, Ghana, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Grenada and Seychelles.
Some challenges highlighted in the presentation were: inconsistent data collection standards, participatory reluctance, unavailability of up-to-date records, complexity, lack of training in data collection, secondary relevance of data and misconceptions. Through an interactive simulation session, participants learned how to begin estimating stocks of standardized RAC products and how to estimate direct and indirect emissions based on stock data.
On Day 2, the topics discussed were: modelling data for mitigation action, data interpretation and development of national cooling action plans and institutionalization of MRV elements. The workshop highlighted lessons learned from the development of a RAC sector inventory and Cooling Action Plan in Grenada through an interview with Leslie Smith from the National Ozone Unit, Grenada.
Some recommendations and considerations mentioned in the interview were to set ambitious targets that are achievable and to ensure that targets are reviewed periodically to meet standards. Additionally, Marco Duran gave a presentation with insight from experiences from the Caribbean Cooling Initiative. The final group activity allowed participants to understand and navigate their next steps with the use of decision trees, which helped visualize the entire process.
In the final remarks, Vintura Silva announced that the Caribbean Cooperative MRV Hub will be conducting a technical “work crew” on industrial gas inventory with the objective of supporting countries in developing national inventories in this sector and welcomed the participants to join.