Governments and funders renew Kigali pact with $100M cooling initiative
At Climate Week NYC, Rwanda, Brazil, and the UK unveiled a ministerial communiqué to strengthen implementation of the Kigali Amendment, focusing on energy-efficient cooling and refrigerant management. A new philanthropic strategy and $100 million funding target were announced to support delivery. The effort seeks to harness the amendment's potential to prevent up to 0.5°C of warming by 2100 as global air conditioner use is projected to triple by 2050.
The Kigali Amendment, adopted in 2016, targets a global phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons, potent greenhouse gases used in refrigeration and air conditioning. The new ministerial communiqué outlines four priorities: robust amendment implementation, sustainable cooling and refrigerant management, expanded finance and technical capacity, and renewed industry partnerships. The initiative also revives the Friends of the Kigali Amendment coalition, which originally helped build political support for the agreement. Rwanda will host MOP38, the amendment's next meeting of parties, as momentum builds toward COP31.
The funding announcement comes amid a projected surge in cooling demand, with global air conditioner stocks expected to grow from 1.6 billion units in 2018 to 5.6 billion by 2050. Philanthropic organizations, including the Sequoia Climate Foundation, have committed to a joint strategy targeting HFC reductions alongside sustainable cooling deployment, with super pollutants accounting for up to 70 percent of avoidable warming by mid-century.
This initiative could meaningfully accelerate climate action by targeting a sector with rapid growth and high emissions potential. Developing nations, where cooling demand is rising fastest, may benefit most from expanded finance and technology transfer, potentially improving public health and economic productivity in hot climates. However, success depends on sustained government commitment and private-sector engagement; without coordinated implementation, the amendment's projected 0.5°C warming avoidance could fall short, affecting vulnerable populations disproportionately exposed to extreme heat.