The 1st IIR International Conference on Refrigeration Adapting to Rising Temperatures was held in Manchester, UK, from 10–13 August 2025. Organized by the Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) in partnership with the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), the event gathered over 120 participants from academia, industry, and government to address the challenges of maintaining effective and sustainable cooling systems in a warming world.
The conference, chaired by Andy Pearson, Group Managing Director at Star Refrigeration and member of the IIR's E1 Commission, opened with remarks highlighting the refrigeration sector’s central role in responding to climate impacts. In his address, IIR representative Marco Duran emphasized the importance of refrigeration for climate resilience, calling access to sustainable cooling “a fundamental right.”
Keynotes focused on the role of refrigeration in essential infrastructure. Dr. Tim Fox argued that cooling must be treated as mission-critical, given its function in health, food systems, and economic stability, particularly in the face of more frequent heatwaves. Dr. Pete Falloon of the UK Met Office presented data on climate risks to food security, calling for cross-sector strategies that integrate climate models and agri-environmental planning.
Urban adaptation was also discussed. Dr. Ruth Wood of the University of Manchester addressed the vulnerabilities of existing housing to high temperatures. She advocated for retrofit strategies that combine passive cooling methods with mechanical solutions, adjusted to regional climate risks and building types.
Technical sessions and workshops covered topics such as cold chain resilience, climate-friendly refrigerants, district cooling, and energy management under extreme weather. The event included over 50 technical papers, five interactive workshops, and a networking session for students organized by the IIR’s CaRe working group.
The conference underscored the urgent need for collaboration and adaptation in refrigeration as global temperatures rise.
