30 years of protecting the ozone and climate with green cooling – GIZ

GIZ’s Proklima Programme: A Report on Green Cooling and Sustainable Development

Advancing Climate Action (SDG 13)

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has been a proponent of natural coolants for nearly 25 years, predating the 2019 entry into effect of the Kigali Amendment. This initiative directly addresses SDG 13 (Climate Action) by actively replacing synthetic, climate-damaging refrigerants with natural alternatives. As global warming increases the demand for cooling appliances, this work is critical to mitigating the feedback loop where synthetic coolants in air-conditioning systems further exacerbate climate change. GIZ’s strategy involves:

• Collaborating with governments, international organizations, and private sector companies in partner countries.
• Developing, testing, and globally implementing viable products that utilize climate-friendly coolants.
• Advising partner countries on transposing international requirements from the Montreal and Kigali agreements into national legislation and practice.

Implementation, Capacity Building, and Economic Growth

Fostering Innovation and Decent Work (SDG 9 & SDG 8)

GIZ’s efforts extend to building industrial capacity and a skilled workforce, contributing to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). The programme assists companies in establishing new production lines for green cooling technologies. A significant component is human capital development; to date, over 600,000 men and women have been trained in the safe handling of natural coolants, which can be flammable. This creates a new class of in-demand technicians who earn higher wages, thereby supporting their families and contributing to SDG 1 (No Poverty).

Economic and Energy Benefits

The adoption of natural coolants presents considerable economic advantages and supports SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).

1. Cost-Effectiveness: Natural coolants are not patented and are increasingly available worldwide, making them a cheaper alternative to synthetic substances.
2. Energy Efficiency: Appliances using natural coolants operate with greater energy efficiency.
3. Renewable Energy Integration: In many countries, these efficient appliances can be powered cost-effectively with solar energy, promoting clean energy access.

Socio-Economic and Health Impacts

Supporting Health and Food Security (SDG 3 & SDG 2)

The green technology revolution driven by the Proklima programme yields tangible improvements in quality of life, directly impacting key development goals.

• Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3): In hot climates, GIZ’s green cooling projects enable the establishment of end-to-end cold chains for vaccines. This has led to significant public health outcomes, including the vaccination of 11,000 people in Burkina Faso and an increase in child vaccination rates to between 80 and 90 per cent in regions of Malawi.
• Zero Hunger (SDG 2): The technology allows supermarkets, fishmongers, and butchers worldwide to refrigerate more produce at a lower cost, enhancing food security and reducing waste.

Through its comprehensive Proklima programme, GIZ is contributing to positive outcomes for 15 of the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, demonstrating an integrated approach to climate protection and global development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article discusses issues and initiatives that connect to several Sustainable Development Goals. While it mentions that the Proklima programme contributes to 15 of the 17 SDGs, the text provides specific evidence for the following:

   • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article explicitly mentions the role of green cooling technology in public health, stating that it enables “the use of end-to-end cold chains for vaccines.” It provides concrete examples of vaccinating 11,000 people in Burkina Faso and raising child vaccination rates to 80-90% in parts of Malawi.
   • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The text highlights that the new technology allows refrigerators to operate more “energy-efficiently” and can be “powered cost-effectively with solar energy,” directly addressing the goals of energy efficiency and renewable energy.
   • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article connects the green technology revolution to job creation and economic improvement. It states that “Technicians specially trained in this sector are in high demand, earn well and can feed themselves and their families.”
   • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The focus on developing and implementing new, sustainable technologies relates to this goal. The article mentions that GIZ works with companies to “establish new production lines” and to “develop and test viable products,” which points to sustainable industrialization and innovation.
   • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The core theme of replacing harmful synthetic coolants with natural, climate-friendly alternatives is a direct example of promoting sustainable production patterns and the environmentally sound management of chemicals.
   • SDG 13: Climate Action: This is a central theme. The entire initiative is framed as a response to climate change, aiming to reduce the impact of cooling appliances on global warming by replacing synthetic substances that exacerbate the problem. The article also mentions advising countries on transposing the “international requirements of the Montreal and Kigali accords into legislation.”
   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article describes a collaborative approach, stating that GIZ works with “governments, international organisations and companies in partner countries” to achieve its objectives, which is the essence of this SDG.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the activities described, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

   • Target 3.b: Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines… and provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines. The article’s emphasis on establishing “end-to-end cold chains for vaccines” directly supports the infrastructure needed to provide access to vaccines.
   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. This is addressed by the statement that the new refrigerators can be “powered cost-effectively with solar energy.”
   • Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency. The mention of refrigerators operating more “energy-efficiently” directly relates to this target.
   • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men. The creation of well-paying jobs for trained technicians who “earn well” aligns with this target.
   • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable… with all countries taking action. This is reflected in the work with companies to “establish new production lines” for green cooling technology.
   • Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil. The project’s goal of replacing synthetic coolants with natural alternatives directly addresses the management and reduction of harmful chemical releases.
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. This is directly supported by GIZ’s work advising “partner countries on transposing the international requirements of the Montreal and Kigali accords into legislation.”
   • Target 17.16: Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships. The article exemplifies this by describing GIZ’s work with “governments, international organisations and companies.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   Yes, the article mentions several direct and implied indicators that can be used to measure progress:

   • For SDG 3: The article provides quantifiable health indicators, such as the “vaccination rate for children in individual regions of Malawi has risen to between 80 and 90 per cent” and the number of people vaccinated in Burkina Faso (11,000).
   • For SDG 8: A direct quantitative indicator is the number of people trained in the safe handling of natural coolants: “over 600,000 men and women to date.” A qualitative indicator is the creation of jobs where technicians “earn well.”
   • For SDG 13: An indicator of policy integration is the successful transposition of international accords (Montreal and Kigali) into national legislation in partner countries.
   • For SDG 7: An implied indicator is the number of cooling units installed that are powered by solar energy and the measured improvement in energy efficiency compared to older models.
   • For SDG 9: A concrete indicator is the number of “new production lines” established in partner countries to manufacture green cooling appliances.
   • For SDG 12: The primary indicator is the volume of synthetic coolants replaced by natural, climate-friendly alternatives.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Summary

Source: giz.de