THE COOLING FOR ALL NEEDS ASSESSMENT

This working paper, produced by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and Heriot-Watt University, introduces a 'Cooling for All Needs Assessment' tool. The tool is designed to help governments and NGOs move beyond equipment-based projections to a holistic, needs-driven analysis of cooling requirements across human comfort, food security, and health services to inform National Cooling Plans.

• Current projections for cooling demand rely heavily on equipment-based data, which the authors argue is flawed due to unreliable unit stock data, a failure to understand community needs, and a tendency to pre-suppose technological solutions rather than exploring demand mitigation.
• The document identifies a significant global cooling gap, stating that more than 1 billion people currently lack access to cooling, which results in negative health and economic consequences.
• The Needs Assessment framework categorizes cooling demand into three primary areas aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): human comfort and safety (including living, learning, and working environments), food and nutrition security and agriculture (including cold chains and rural incomes), and health services (including vaccine storage and clinic environments).
• The authors suggest that cooling demand can be significantly reduced through non-technological interventions, noting that passive cooling strategies and the reduction of thermal loads can decrease energy use by more than 30%, even in hot climates.
• The proposed methodology for a National Cooling Plan involves a five-step process: collecting data via a scorecard, identifying specific cooling needs and gaps, assessing implications for energy and climate change, aggregating policy and finance choices, and identifying opportunities for regional or international collaboration.
• The document lists several international entities that can provide technical assistance or financing for the development of National Cooling Plans, including the World Bank, UN Environment, the UN Development Program, and the Green Climate Fund.

APA

Sustainable Energy for All (2019). THE COOLING FOR ALL NEEDS ASSESSMENT. https://www.seforall.org/system/files/2019-11/CoolingforAll_Needs-Assessment-Working-Paper.pdf

Chicago

Sustainable Energy for All. THE COOLING FOR ALL NEEDS ASSESSMENT. 2019. https://www.seforall.org/system/files/2019-11/CoolingforAll_Needs-Assessment-Working-Paper.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Sustainable Energy for All |title=THE COOLING FOR ALL NEEDS ASSESSMENT |date=2019 |url=https://www.seforall.org/system/files/2019-11/CoolingforAll_Needs-Assessment-Working-Paper.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sustainableenergyforall2019cooling, author = {{Sustainable Energy for All}}, title = {{THE COOLING FOR ALL NEEDS ASSESSMENT}}, institution = {Sustainable Energy for All}, year = {2019}, url = {https://www.seforall.org/system/files/2019-11/CoolingforAll_Needs-Assessment-Working-Paper.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }