Cooling is central to health, prosperity, and the environment. It can be provided actively (e.g. via air conditioning) or passively (e.g. through cool building design). Applications range from space cooling for buildings, vehicles, and industrial processes, to cold chains for food and medicines. Efficient, climate-friendly cooling for all underpins many Sustainable Development Goals and represents an opportunity to avoid substantial greenhouse gas emissions.

Ensuring cooling needs are met affordably, efficiently, cleanly, and innovatively, including for the 1.1 billion people who lack access to basic energy services, is a big opportunity for governments to cut emissions while strengthening resilience to a warming world. It also serves other strategic policy priorities, including better health, higher productivity, trade and innovation advantage, cleaner air, and enhanced food and energy security.

This guide for governments is one in a series that is also being disseminated to businesses, investors, and civil society to elevate cooling as an inclusive, impactful, and urgent opportunity for the UN Secretary General Summit in September 2019.