Liberia - Integrating Kigali Commitments in NDCs and Capacity Building for Energy-Efficient Cooling Appliances

Rationale

Liberia is seeking to strengthen its transition towards more energy-efficient cooling technologies and low-global-warming-potential (GWP) refrigerants while integrating refrigerant-related mitigation measures into its national climate commitments.

The project will support Liberia in advancing policies and institutional capacity for the sustainable cooling sector, with a focus on hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) consumption and emissions, energy efficiency, and the implementation of Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and energy labelling for residential refrigerators and room air conditioners.

The project responds to the need for strengthened stakeholder coordination, technical capacity, market and policy assessment, and monitoring, verification and enforcement (MVE) systems.

Objectives

The project aims to support Liberia in leapfrogging to superior cooling solutions, including innovative low-GWP refrigerants and modern, energy-efficient cooling technologies for refrigerators and room air conditioners.

The project will support Liberia to:

• Integrate HCFC and HFC consumption and emissions assessments into the country's NDC update.
• Develop a comprehensive cooling-sector mitigation roadmap, including long-term strategies and implementation plans.
• Establish a system to estimate and monitor HCFC and HFC consumption and emissions in line with international reporting requirements.
• Develop and advance localized MEPS and energy labelling policies for residential room air conditioners.
• Strengthen institutional and technical capacity on refrigerants, energy efficiency, MVE, and compliance verification.
• Facilitate regional knowledge exchange on MEPS, energy labelling and refrigerant requirements through an ECOWAS study tour.

Key outcomes

Integrating refrigerant assessments into Liberia's NDC

The project will establish a Project Working Group and develop a cooling-sector mitigation roadmap based on the national cooling market and projected demand.

It will also support a system to estimate and monitor current and projected HCFC and HFC consumption and emissions, strengthening data and reporting for Liberia's NDC and future policy decisions.

Advancing energy-efficiency standards for room air conditioners

The project will assess Liberia's cooling market and policy landscape and develop a Policy Roadmap for MEPS and energy labelling.

It will support the development or updating of MEPS and energy labelling regulations for residential room air conditioners, drawing on international best practices and UNEP U4E Model Regulation Guidelines.

A regional ECOWAS study tour will facilitate knowledge exchange on energy-efficiency regulation.

Strengthening technical capacity and compliance systems

The project will assess institutional capacity and training needs and deliver targeted training on MEPS, energy labelling, refrigerant phase-down and MVE.

Technical capacity-building will strengthen the ability of relevant institutions to verify compliance with refrigerant and energy-efficiency requirements, including through testing, documentation, product registration and certification.

Project Reference: LR-24-005.