On June 18, 2025, the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) hosted the World Refrigeration Day event at Salons Hoche in Paris, bringing together nearly 170 high-level participants from governments, industry, academia, and international organizations across more than 60 countries. The event celebrated the pivotal role of refrigeration and heat pump technologies in enhancing human well-being, animal welfare, and climate sustainability.
This year’s event marked a significant milestone—exactly one year after the launch of the IIR’s 2024–2028 strategy—and reinforced the organisation’s mission to foster global collaboration and knowledge exchange in the refrigeration sector.
The program featured four thematic sessions with contributions from government officials, scientists, industry leaders, and international organisations:
Session 1: High-Level Country Perspectives
Government representatives discussed national priorities for refrigeration technologies:
Mr. Ayman Eltalouny, Multilateral Fund for the Montreal Protocol
Prof. Rokhmin Dahuri, Former Minister, Indonesia
Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, Energy Commission, Nigeria
Prof. Kouamé Georges Kouadio, Ministry of Environment, Côte d’Ivoire
Ms. Mame Coumba Ndiaye, Energy Management Agency, Senegal
Mr. Arno Kaschl, European Commission, DG Climate Action
Mr. Priya Ranjan, Ministry of Agriculture, India
Moderated by Mariana Castaño Cano
Session 2: Science Perspective
Members of the IIR Scientific and Technical Council discussed the science behind refrigeration:
Dr. Aleš Srnka, Czech Academy of Sciences
Dr. Andy Pearson, Star Refrigeration, UK
Prof. Judith Evans, London South Bank University
Dr. Richard Lawton, University of Salford
Prof. Xianting Li, Tsinghua University, China
Ms. Amal Kasry, UNESCO
Mr. Gérald Cavalier, President, IIR STC
Moderated by Souhir Al-Hammami, IIR
Session 3: Industry Innovation
Leaders from the private sector shared trends and solutions in sustainable cooling:
Mr. Lionel Pourcheresse, Carrier Transicold
Mr. Damien Destremau, CEO, Chereau
Mr. Martin Dieryckx, Daikin Europe
Ms. Andrea Voigt, Danfoss Climate Solutions
Mr. Dave Malinauskas, CIMCO Refrigeration
Mr. Alois Mhlanga, UNIDO
Mr. Gilles Labranque, Sofrigam
Moderated by Mariana Castaño Cano
Session 4: International Cooperation
Global organisations explored collective efforts for inclusive refrigeration:
Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran, World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)
Ms. Ruth Zugman Do Coutto, UNEP
Ms. Krystyna Dawson, BSRIA
Ms. Ellen Michel, GIZ Proklima
Mr. Alessandro Flammini, FAO
Ms. Martina Otto, Climate and Clean Air Coalition
Ms. Oxana Megglé, IFC
Ms. Franziska Menten, UNIDO
Prof. Min-Soo Kim, President, IIR General Conference
Moderated by Marco Duran, IIR
A special exhibition showcased rare historical documents and milestones from the IIR’s long-standing history since its founding in 1908, tracing the evolution of refrigeration technologies and their societal impact.
Yosr Allouche, Director General of the IIR, welcomed attendees and highlighted the significance of the event:
“Your presence reflects your commitment to a sector pivotal for human well-being — from health utilities and food safety to energy security — while advancing animal welfare and climate sustainability.”