An international study tour recently brought representatives from Costa Rica, Grenada, and the Philippines to Germany for an immersive experience in the latest sustainable cooling innovations at Chillventa 2024, a leading global refrigeration technology exhibition. The tour was organized by the Cool Contributions Fighting Climate Change (C4) II project, aimed at exploring technical solutions to accelerate the shift toward environmentally friendly cooling practices.
The tour began on October 7 with a full-day workshop at GIZ’s headquarters in Eschborn, where participants shared project insights, achievements, and challenges, fostering valuable knowledge exchange. After the workshop, the group headed to Chillventa in Nuremberg, delving into cutting-edge advancements in refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump technologies. Here, they focused particularly on natural refrigerants, such as propane (R290), which offer a greener alternative for cooling appliances. The participants engaged with industry experts, manufacturers, and research institutions, including a discussion with Daniel de Graaf from the German Environment Agency, to deepen their understanding of sustainable cooling technology.
The study tour included a visit to the Bundesfachschule für Kälte-Klima-Technik (BFS) in Maintal, where participants learned about vocational training for refrigeration technicians. The BFS training center, part of GIZ Proklima’s Cool Training, is dedicated to educating professionals on sustainable cooling technologies.
Upon returning to their home countries, the participants aim to implement these insights to drive the adoption of natural refrigerants and energy-efficient technologies, thereby reducing CO₂ emissions and improving energy efficiency. The study tour represented a significant step forward in international cooperation for sustainable cooling, supporting the participants’ transition to "Green Cooling" in line with climate action goals.
Cool Contributions Fighting Climate Change II (C4 II) is a global project managed by GIZ to support sustainable development in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) sector. Focused on countries including Costa Rica, Grenada, and the Philippines, C4 II aims to align the climate targets of the Paris Agreement with the Montreal Protocol. As part of the GIZ Proklima programme, C4 II provides technical assistance to help developing countries meet the environmental standards set by the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment. The project is funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection (BMUV) as part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI).