Several countries that attended the G7 Summit in Biarritz, France pledged to take immediate action to improve energy efficiency in the cooling sector, while also phasing down polluting hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). These countries have not been made public yet.

What is now called the Biarritz Pledge for Fast Action on Efficient Cooling will reduce emissions from the global cooling sector by coordinating efforts to improve the efficiency of air conditioners and other cooling equipment and appliances.

The pledge is timely, as emissions from cooling are projected to be the fastest growing as global demand for cooling increases due to rising incomes in developing countries and as temperatures increase. Energy use from refrigeration and cooling is expected to rise by 90% from 2017 levels by 2050, according to a report by the University of Birmingham.

Countries have agreed to undertake ambitious measures to reduce energy demand from cooling, including the development of national cooling plans and the adoption of energy performance standards. Governments will also drive the market towards highly efficient and affordable cooling technologies with low-or-zero global warming potential by using their bulk purchasing power. Governments have also pledged to engage the private sector and financial institutions to fund additional activities.