UNEP’s United for Efficiency initiative, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Energy have launched a project to support the country’s transition to energy-efficient cooling equipment and low-global warming potential refrigerants.
The project will focus on domestic refrigerators and room air conditioners. Its activities include strengthening technical expertise, supporting policy and regulatory frameworks, and establishing a platform for coordination among national stakeholders and existing initiatives.
U4E will provide technical assistance to the Directorate General for Energy to develop Minimum Energy Performance Standards, strengthen the existing energy labelling scheme and improve monitoring, verification and enforcement practices. The initiative will also develop sustainable public procurement guidelines and recommend technical specifications for testing equipment.
Côte d’Ivoire’s energy labelling programmes currently cover air conditioners, refrigerators and electric lamps. The project will also support the country’s commitments under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol and its efforts to phase down hydrofluorocarbons.
Following the launch, U4E and its national partners will assess the market for domestic refrigerators and room air conditioners, establish a Policy Working Group and prepare the group’s first technical workshop.
“This project represents an important next step in translating those commitments into concrete action, accelerating the transition to sustainable cooling technologies that improve energy efficiency, reduce climate impacts, and deliver lasting benefits for the community and the economy,” said Seraphine Haeussling, Programme Manager at CCAC.