Written by: Islam El-Saqqa
The ClimateWorks Foundation has announced the allocation of an initial installment of $36 million; aimed at reducing global cooling system emissions, following record heatwaves and the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon, which threaten more heat-related deaths in the coming months.
This funding comes as part of broader philanthropic efforts totaling $100 million over four years, focusing on curbing super-polluting refrigerants and expanding access to sustainable and energy-efficient cooling solutions. Projections indicate a significant growth in demand for cooling equipment, with the number of air conditioning units estimated to more than triple by 2050, increasing emissions associated with hydrofluorocarbons used in air conditioning and refrigeration.
Global efforts to promote sustainable cooling
Several prominent entities are participating in supporting this funding initiative, including the Sequoia Climate Fund, the Bernard and Anne Spitzer Charitable Trust, and the Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham Environmental Trust. These funds will be directed directly to global organizations that align with the four-year sustainable cooling strategy developed by the Cool Coalition and alliances working against super-pollutants.
The involved parties emphasize that preventing these gas emissions provides massive climate benefits quickly. A decade ago, governments committed to adopting more energy-efficient cooling systems through the Kigali Amendment, and now it is the turn of philanthropy to support this ambition, help build a future free of hydrofluorocarbons, and protect communities most affected by record temperatures in Asia, Europe, and around the world, while reducing the climate pollution driving global warming.
