Context
Temperatures are rising worldwide, which is leading to growing demand for cooling. However, cooling technologies emit greenhouse gases, which fuel global warming even more. Proklima has been promoting wider use of green cooling technologies since 1995 in an attempt to break this vicious cycle. These technologies run on natural coolants which neither harm the environment nor the climate and are very energy-efficient.
Proklima bases its work on the Montreal Protocol (MP) and its Kigali Amendment in which the international community committed to eliminating ozone-depleting gases and reducing use of climate-damaging substitutes. At the same time, Proklima contributes to the Paris Agreement and in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Objective
Natural coolants are being used worldwide, thus contributing to climate, ozone and environmental protection.
Approach
A team supports the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in all matters concerning the Montreal Protocol. It is involved in developing safety and health standards, as well as norms and laws.
The project also offers ‘cool training’ courses to teach technicians from partner countries how to use natural coolants.
In addition, Proklima implements pilot projects. For example, a hospital in Cameroon received climate-friendly cooling devices for blood reserves. Agricultural cooperatives in Senegal and Mali benefit from solar-powered cold rooms.
The implementation in the partner countries takes place within a component called ROCA, co-financed by the European Union (EU). ROCA stands for "Refroidissement respectueux de l’Ozone et du Climat en Afrique de l’Ouest et Centrale," which translates to "Ozone and climate-friendly cooling in West and Central Africa".
In addition to the project described here, there are other projects from various commissioners under Proklima. This creates valuable synergies that contribute to climate- and environmentally-friendly cooling technologies in over 40 countries.