Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program (K-CEP)

The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which enters into force on 1 January 2019, will help protect the climate by phasing down high global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are commonly used as refrigerants. Promoting energy efficiency of cooling technology can significantly increase those climate co-benefits. The capacity of National Ozone Officers (NOOs) in Article 5 countries needs to be strengthened so they can adjust their national Montreal Protocol compliance programmes to respond to the Kigali Amendment and incorporate energy efficiency considerations into their countries’ work with the refrigeration and air conditioning sector. Since this cannot happen in isolation, a variety of national stakeholders need to come together to develop or revise policies and programmes for integrated, holistic refrigerant management approaches to this next refrigerant transition.

The daily work of the NOOs now takes place in this new Kigali context. Their countries face critical technology and policy choices as they continue work to meet and sustain the Protocol’s HCFC phase-out compliance targets, while simultaneously preparing for the HFC phase down. They need support to assess, monitor and sustain the sound management of refrigerants with due consideration for energy-efficient technology choices and sustaining the critical refrigeration and air conditioning sector workforce.

The Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program (K-CEP) is supporting countries, companies and communities to achieve energy efficiency objectives related to the Kigali Amendment. Launched in 2017, K-CEP is deploying US$ 52 million of philanthropic funds to strengthen institutions, support adoption of model policies, scale-up technology deployment, leverage finance and help make cooling more affordable and sustainable. UN Environment is one of K-CEP’s implementing partners.