The International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) called for stronger global coordination and faster deployment of sustainable cooling solutions during the UNIDO Sustainable Cooling Forum held on April 8, 2026. Speaking at the event, IIR Director General Dr. Yosr Allouche emphasized the growing importance of refrigeration in addressing global challenges such as food security, public health, energy demand, and climate action.
Allouche noted that demand for cooling is rising rapidly and, in some regions, already exceeds sustainable capacity. While technologies are available, key barriers remain, including non-harmonized standards, fragmented regulations, skills shortages, limited access to finance, and gaps between policymakers and scientific communities. She stressed that addressing these issues through a systems approach is essential to ensure equitable access to cooling.
The statement highlighted ongoing technological advances, including oil-free compressors, variable speed drives, thermal integration, and energy recovery systems enabling combined cooling and heating. Increased use of renewable energy and thermal energy storage, alongside proper operation and maintenance practices, were also identified as contributing to improved efficiency. The IIR underlined the importance of robust and harmonized energy performance standards to ensure effective deployment.
Natural refrigerants such as CO2, ammonia, and hydrocarbons were described as proven and scalable solutions across multiple applications. Allouche noted that selecting appropriate technologies depends on specific applications and climatic conditions, with no single solution suitable for all cases.
The IIR also stressed the importance of strengthening links between scientific research and policy implementation, highlighting its role in providing evidence-based technical guidance and supporting collaboration with organizations such as UNIDO. Priority areas include sustainable cold chains, energy-efficient technologies, capacity building, and the adoption of natural refrigerants.
“The objective is simple, not just to deploy solutions, but to deploy the right and feasible solutions, at scale, and with long-term impact,” said Dr. Yosr Allouche.