Kenya has officially joined the league of countries working towards reducing their energy emissions with the launch of the National Cooling Action Plan (NCAP) for Kenya, covering the period from 2023 to 2027.
The plan aims to facilitate the transition to sustainable cooling systems in the country by promoting the use of high-energy-efficient appliances, adopting natural refrigerants, and improving access to agricultural cold chain solutions.
During the launch event held at a hotel in Nairobi, Eng Festus K Ng’eno, the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Environment and Climate Change, highlighted that the NCAP seeks to enhance the performance and efficiency of cooling appliances while transitioning to refrigerants with low environmental impacts.
“The National Cooling Action Plan is all about creating the right conditions for the growth of the sustainable cold chain market and by providing financial incentives for cold storage systems and making sure everyone understands the incredible benefits of zero-emission cold chains”, said the PS.
Traditional cooling equipment, such as refrigeration and air conditioning systems, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions through the use of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) refrigerants, which are potent greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances.
To address these emissions, the Kenyan government is committed to promoting sustainable cooling practices through the implementation of the NCAP. The plan aims to improve access to energy-efficient cooling solutions with minimal environmental impact.
Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) have set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 32% or 143 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent by 2030, and conventional cooling services pose a challenge to achieving this goal.
The PS emphasized the importance of adopting green cooling solutions that utilize natural refrigerants, as they are environmentally friendly, ozone-friendly, and have a minimal impact on global warming.
The National Cooling Action Plan aims to create favorable conditions for the growth of the sustainable cold chain market and provide financial incentives for the adoption of zero-emission cold storage systems.
The PS encouraged all stakeholders to actively engage and collaborate in the implementation of the National Cooling Action Plan to ensure its success.
