The Philippines has released its second greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory for the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) sector, providing updated data on emissions from refrigerants and electricity consumption across key cooling subsectors. The inventory offers a foundation for targeted climate action in the sector.
The updated inventory builds on the initial version from 2019 and applies a mix of IPCC Tier 1 and Tier 2 methodologies. It includes direct emissions from refrigerant leakage and indirect emissions from electricity use, though excludes indirect emissions from the mobile air-conditioning (MAC) sector.
Covered subsectors include unitary air conditioning (UAC), AC chillers, MAC, domestic refrigeration, and commercial refrigeration. The data aims to guide mitigation efforts by identifying areas where efficiency improvements and refrigerant transitions can yield substantial climate benefits.
By 2050, UAC stock is projected to grow to approximately 15.6 million units, and domestic refrigeration units to around 21 million, with a strong market trend towards R600a. The number of AC chillers and MAC units is expected to more than double, reaching 18,200 and 12 million units, respectively. Centralized supermarket systems in commercial refrigeration are projected to see the highest growth.
According to the inventory, emissions from the RAC sector are estimated at 35.5 MtCO₂e in 2025, with UAC accounting for about 53% and commercial refrigeration for around 27%. Without additional mitigation, emissions may rise to 45.7 MtCO₂e by 2050.
The report identifies the greatest mitigation potential in the UAC and commercial refrigeration subsectors, particularly through stricter minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and a faster transition to low-GWP refrigerants.
The inventory was developed under the Cool Contributions fighting Climate Change C4 II project, implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI).
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