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The 'Cooling for All Needs Assessment' working paper argues that traditional equipment-based projections of cooling demand are insufficient because they rely on unreliable data and ignore the actual social and community needs of vulnerable populations. Instead, it proposes a needs-based approach aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to identify gaps in human comfort, food security, and health services. The framework aims to help policymakers reduce energy demand through passive design and behavioral change, identify sustainable technologies, and align finance with outcome-based interventions to mitigate the climate and energy impacts of rising cooling demand.

The report identifies that 1.05 billion people remain at high risk due to a lack of cooling access, while another 2.2 billion are at risk of adopting inefficient cooling technologies. It advocates for a shift from equipment-based projections to a needs-based assessment covering thermal comfort, food security, and medical cold chains. Key progress is noted in the development of National Cooling Plans in India, China, and Rwanda, alongside the launch of the Cool Coalition and innovative financing models like Cooling as a Service (CaaS).

The report assesses the global landscape of Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for air conditioners and refrigerators, building energy efficiency codes, and urban heat mitigation. It highlights significant gaps in policy adoption and enforcement in Africa and other emerging markets, while noting that aligning standards with Best Available Technologies (BAT) could improve appliance energy performance by 50% to 65%.

The report outlines a multi-pronged approach to building cooling, emphasizing the transition from active air conditioning to passive design and high-efficiency technology. It details various technical solutions—ranging from 'super-efficient' AC units and passive cooling techniques to wearable devices and the use of waste cold from LNG terminals. The document also analyzes policy levers such as Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and behavior change campaigns like Japan's 'Cool Biz'. Finally, it explores innovative business models to improve affordability for the poor, including Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG), ESCO models, and public-private partnerships in countries like India, Mexico, and Bangladesh.

The report examines the growing global need for cooling, driven by urbanization and rising incomes, particularly in developing countries. It warns that a surge in air conditioning (AC) use could lead to massive increases in electricity demand and urban heat island effects. The document also details the critical role of cold chains in reducing food loss and ensuring vaccine viability, while emphasizing the need to 'leapfrog' high-emission cooling technologies to avoid severe environmental impacts.

The document outlines a framework for Ahmedabad to mitigate the deadly effects of extreme heat, which saw temperatures reach 46.8°C (116°F) during a May 2010 heat wave. It identifies a wide network of stakeholders across central, state, and municipal governments and recommends the creation of a Heat-Health Nodal Office to coordinate communication and response. Key proposed actions include installing additional weather gauges, implementing passive cooling like white china mosaic roofs, and expanding urban green cover. The brief emphasizes the need for targeted outreach to vulnerable populations, such as slum residents and outdoor workers, and suggests integrating heat warnings into existing disease surveillance systems.

The document outlines a hierarchy for space cooling, prioritizing the minimization of heat gain through passive measures before investing in mechanical systems. It details various cooling technologies, including fans, evaporative coolers, heat pumps, and air conditioners, providing guidance on their efficiency, costs, and appropriate climatic applications.

The Greening the White House Project, initiated by the Clinton Administration in 1993, aims to transform the White House complex into a model of efficiency and environmental responsibility. The project employs a six-component approach: audits, a feasibility study, early actions, demonstration spaces, long-term initiatives, and technology transfer. Key efforts include upgrading the building envelope, improving lighting and HVAC systems, and implementing sustainable procurement. The project emphasizes an integrated design process to reduce resource consumption by potentially 50% or more while respecting the historic and security requirements of the site.

Geres advocates for a holistic approach to universal energy access that moves beyond binary measurements to ensure high-quality, affordable, and reliable energy services. The organization focuses on the 'base of the pyramid' (BoP), integrating renewable energy deployment with energy sobriety and efficiency to avoid environmental degradation. Key operational models include Green Business Areas (GBAs) to foster rural entrepreneurship and the promotion of energy-efficient cooking and cooling solutions. Geres emphasizes capacity-building, gender equality, and the use of social enterprises to ensure the long-term sustainability and scalability of energy projects in rural and peri-urban areas.

Kenya faces significant cooling challenges, with 40% of agricultural produce lost annually due to inadequate cold chains and government health facilities seeing minimal electricity access improvements (69% to 70% between 2016 and 2021). While the cold chain market is projected to reach USD 2.1 billion by 2030, the sector is hindered by fragmented infrastructure and high costs for small-scale farmers. In the health sector, the Ministry of Health aims to equip all facilities with optimal Cold Chain Equipment by 2026, having already deployed 8,342 refrigerators. Urban areas like Mombasa and Nairobi's Kibera settlement suffer from the urban heat island effect and poor building design, with 90% of available air conditioners being low-efficiency models. Additional cooling needs are identified in data centres and planned nuclear power plants in Kilifi and Kwale.

The document highlights that over 3.2 billion people in 52 high-impact countries face cooling access challenges, with 1.05 billion at high risk. It advocates for a shift from equipment-based projections to a needs-based approach covering thermal comfort, food security, and healthcare. The report recommends national action plans, public-private partnerships, and targeted financing for the most vulnerable populations to ensure equitable access to sustainable cooling.

The report identifies significant cooling access gaps in Ghana, with 12.9 million people at high risk due to poverty and lack of electricity. It argues for a transition to sustainable cooling by integrating passive design, higher energy efficiency standards, and the phase-out of HFC refrigerants. Key focus areas include developing cold chains for agriculture and healthcare to reduce food loss and improve vaccine distribution, while addressing the urban heat island effect in cities like Accra and Kumasi.

The report outlines a strategic framework for Kenya to achieve sustainable cooling through the integration of cooling needs into national energy and climate policies, such as the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and the National Climate Action Plan (NCAP). It proposes the creation of a cross-ministerial coordinating committee and the development of 'Cool Cities' through urban heat mitigation and green spaces. Key regulatory recommendations include updating the National Building Code for passive cooling and aligning Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) with United for Efficiency (U4E) model regulations by 2025. To support the agricultural and healthcare sectors, the document advocates for modernized cold chain infrastructure and the use of catalytic financing instruments like green bonds and blended finance to attract private investment.

The policy brief outlines a framework for Ghana to achieve sustainable cooling through the integration of cooling needs into national energy and climate plans, the establishment of a National Cooling Plan Committee, and the adoption of passive cooling and energy efficiency standards. It emphasizes the need for 'Cool Cities' initiatives in urban centers like Accra and Kumasi, the modernization of cold chains for agriculture and healthcare via renewable energy, and the use of innovative financing like green bonds to attract private investment.

The report highlights that approximately 3 billion people lack essential cooling, leading to millions of deaths annually from heatwaves, vaccine spoilage, and food insecurity. It identifies 9 high-risk countries—including India, China, and Nigeria—and categorizes vulnerable populations into rural poor, urban poor, and low-middle income groups. The document argues that meeting this demand sustainably is critical to achieving the Paris Agreement and the Kigali Amendment, as inefficient cooling could lead to a massive increase in energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions. Proposed solutions include passive cooling (e.g., cool roofs), district cooling, and innovative financing like PAYGO models.

The report assesses Kenya's cooling landscape, highlighting that 9.6 million people are at high risk due to lack of cooling access. It identifies critical needs in agriculture, where 40% of food is lost annually, and healthcare, where electricity gaps hinder vaccine cold chains. To mitigate these issues and align with the Energy Transition and Investment Plan (ETIP) 2023-2050, the document recommends eight policy interventions, including the adoption of passive cooling, stricter Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPs), and the phase-out of HFC refrigerants. It also proposes financial strategies such as green bonds and blended finance to overcome high upfront costs for sustainable cooling technologies.

The report identifies a significant global cooling access gap affecting approximately 3.4 billion people, categorized into the rural poor, slum dwellers, carbon captives, and middle-income groups. It highlights the critical role of cooling in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly regarding heat-related mortality, vaccine preservation, and agricultural food loss. The document emphasizes the intersection of the SDGs, the Paris Agreement, and the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, warning that unmanaged demand for inefficient air conditioning could lead to a massive increase in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. It proposes a holistic 'thinking thermally' approach, combining passive cooling, district cooling, and efficient technology with innovative financing models like PAYGO to provide sustainable cooling for all.

The World Resources Institute introduces a framework for planning passive cooling infrastructure in cities using OpenUrban, a 1-meter resolution urban land-use and land-cover dataset. By combining OpenUrban with remotely sensed data on albedo, tree canopy, and temperature, the framework generates three implementation scenarios—technical, achievable, and program—for trees, cool roofs, reflective pavements, and shade structures. The tool is designed to be city-agnostic and low-burden, requiring no local data inputs and providing both area-wide potential indicators and spatial simulation maps to support policy and planning.

The document introduces an open-source method to model the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) at a 1-meter resolution using the SOLWEIG model and open-access data. This framework allows cities to assess baseline heat risks and simulate the cooling effects of interventions such as tree planting, shade structures, and cool surfaces. The method's accuracy was validated against LiDAR-supported models, showing a mean absolute error of 0.39°C.

The Zero Carbon Building Accelerator aims to decarbonize the global building stock by 2050, addressing the fact that building construction and operations account for nearly 40% of global energy-related CO2 emissions. The initiative employs a four-part strategy—outreach, dialogue, planning, and enabling—to help governments map decarbonization pathways and implement action plans. WRI intends to scale impact by engaging at least two jurisdictions per country and supporting three additional subnational governments globally through technical assistance and peer learning. Zero carbon buildings are defined as having net zero annual operational emissions and reduced life-cycle emissions, achieved through energy efficiency, electrification, and renewable energy sources.