The 47th Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG-47) of the Montreal Protocol, held in Bangkok, featured a series of side events focused on critical themes shaping the future of the refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump (RACHP) sector. Organised by international institutions including the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), Centro Studi Galileo (CSG), UNEP United for Efficiency (U4E), and GIZ Proklima, the events addressed sustainable data centre cooling, harmonised technician training, and gender equality in the industry.
Sustainable Cooling in Data Centres
On July 7, CCAC and IIR, with U4E support, hosted the side event “Cooling Systems Emissions from Data Centres.” Participants discussed the environmental impact of data centre cooling systems, one of the fastest-growing sources of global greenhouse gas emissions. The IEA estimates global data centre electricity use reached 240–340 TWh in 2022 and could more than double by 2030.
Dr. Baolong Wang of Tsinghua University and the IIR Working Group on Dehumidification presented sustainable cooling technologies including liquid, air, and hybrid systems, alongside AI controls, natural cooling, and heat recovery strategies. Thailand’s national policy efforts were shared by Dr. Pattanan Tarin from the Ozone Protection Unit, while a global panel addressed Kigali Amendment compliance amid digital expansion. The event concluded with UNEP U4E introducing a procurement guideline to reduce emissions through sustainable equipment choices.
International Training and Certification Standards
On July 9, the session “International Training and Certification Standards for RACHP” brought together CSG, AREA, IIR, IGSD, and national institutions from the EU, US, Tunisia, and China. The event underlined the essential role of skilled technicians in ensuring energy-efficient, safe, and environmentally compliant RACHP systems.
Speakers including Marco Duran (IIR), Stephen Andersen (IGSD), and Youssef Hammami (NOUs Tunisia) highlighted certification systems, best practices, and country case studies. Tunisia’s national programme, supported by UNIDO, has certified over 140 trainers and established 40 vocational centres. China's initiatives include VR-assisted training tools. The EU’s SophiA project was mentioned for its off-grid cooling and training efforts in Africa. Participants called for expanded, harmonised training and certification to support the refrigerant transition.
Promoting Gender Equality in the Cooling Sector
On July 10, IIR participated in a side event organised by GIZ Proklima addressing gender imbalance in the RACHP sector. With over 12 million people employed globally in RACHP, women represent only 6% of members in national organisations, according to IIR.
Souhir Al Hammami (IIR) presented structural and cultural barriers limiting women's participation. Representatives from Grenada, Bhutan, China, the Philippines, Nigeria, Germany, and Mauritius shared local perspectives. Discussions covered barriers across the career path—from education to workplace inclusion—and strategies such as awareness campaigns, inclusive training, policy support, and mentorship.
The event closed with recommendations from the Green Cooling Initiative (GCI) and remarks from Guntram Glasbrenner (GIZ Proklima), reinforcing the sector’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
OEWG-47’s side events collectively highlighted the urgent need for sustainable solutions, skilled workforce development, and inclusive practices to meet the evolving demands of the RACHP sector under the Montreal Protocol framework.
