COVID-19 response: building back better with efficient and climate-friendly cooling

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives and disrupted millions more.  Despite challenges presented by this pandemic, the world cannot allow it to compromise efforts to tackle the linked and ongoing challenges of climate change, poor air quality, unsustainable development and biodiversity loss. The global response to the pandemic has highlighted the importance of access to cooling and refrigeration as an essential service for people’s wellbeing during lockdowns and vaccine distribution. Cooling is therefore a critical intervention area, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, that can deliver short-term emergency needs, support long-term economic recovery, support sustainable development, and increase resilience to future shocks. 

As governments marshal massive economic stimulus efforts to mitigate the economic and social impacts of COVID-19 we must use this unique opportunity to accelerate progress for efficient, climate-friendly cooling for a more resilient and prosperous world. The Efficient Cooling Initiative is helping countries Build Back Better with efficient and climate-friendly cooling.