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Why do countries need a cooling plan?
Cooling demand grows with heat, population and income, and it drives peak electricity demand and refrigerant emissions at the same time. These issues usually sit with different ministries: energy for efficiency standards, environment for refrigerants, health and agriculture for cold chains. An NCAP brings them into one plan with shared data, targets and financing, aligned with the Paris Agreement and the Kigali Amendment[1][2]. For the refrigerant side, see the guide on the HFC phase-down in Lebanon.
What does a National Cooling Action Plan include?
| Component | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Cooling demand | Current and projected demand in buildings, appliances, cold chains, transport and industry |
| Refrigerant transition | HFC phase-down pathway, lower-GWP alternatives, servicing and recovery |
| Equipment efficiency | Minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and labels for air conditioners and refrigerators |
| Buildings and passive cooling | Building codes, shading, insulation and urban heat measures |
| Cold chains | Food and medicine cold chains, losses and efficiency |
| Skills, finance and monitoring | Technician training, finance mechanisms, data and progress reporting |
Based on the Cool Coalition NCAP Methodology[1][2].
How is a cooling plan developed, step by step?
- Set up governance: a lead ministry and a cross-sector working group.
- Build the baseline: cooling demand, equipment stock, refrigerant use and emissions.
- Project demand and emissions under current policies.
- Identify and prioritise measures, with their costs and benefits.
- Agree targets, an action plan, financing and a monitoring system.
- Adopt the plan, implement it and review it at set intervals.
What is different about cooling plans in MENA?
MENA countries face high ambient temperatures, which affect how air conditioners and refrigerants perform and how efficiency is tested, and cooling is a large share of peak power demand. UNEP's 2026 NCAP methodology for the MENA region adapts the global approach to these high-ambient-temperature conditions and adds equity, access to cooling and heat resilience[2].
Where independent support helps
A cooling plan depends on reliable data on equipment, refrigerants and energy use, and on agreement across ministries. Otibara has supported cooling plans and efficiency standards in Lebanon, Sudan, Cameroon and Burkina Faso, from baseline surveys to policy recommendations.
Common questions
Is a National Cooling Action Plan mandatory?
No. It is a voluntary national strategy, but it helps countries meet binding commitments such as the HFC phase-down under the Kigali Amendment and their climate targets[1].
How long does it take to develop a cooling plan?
Typically one to two years from baseline data collection to adoption, depending on data availability and how many institutions are involved.
How does a cooling plan relate to the Kigali Amendment?
The Kigali Amendment sets a binding HFC phase-down. A cooling plan sets out how the country will meet it while also raising equipment efficiency, so that new equipment uses lower-GWP refrigerants and less electricity at the same time, capturing climate benefits from both.
Who supports countries in developing cooling plans?
Development partners including UNEP's Cool Coalition, UNDP, GIZ and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition have supported cooling plans and the methodologies behind them[2].