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Chilling Prospects 2022 identifies that 3.66 billion people face high or medium risk from cooling access challenges, with 1.2 billion rural and urban poor at high risk. The report highlights critical gaps in food cold chains, health services, and human safety, while forecasting that achieving SDG 7.1 and SDG 1.1 could reduce the high-risk population by 36% by 2030. It advocates for a transition to sustainable, energy-efficient cooling and the implementation of National Cooling Action Plans (NCAPs) to mitigate climate impacts and protect vulnerable populations.

The 2022 SEforALL Forum, held in Kigali, Rwanda, mobilized USD 347 million in new financial commitments to support clean energy transitions and energy access in developing countries. Key outcomes included the Kigali Communique, which outlines seven transformative actions for a just energy transition in Africa, and the launch of several new partnerships and initiatives targeting renewable energy, energy efficiency, and clean cooking. The event emphasized the integration of youth in energy leadership and provided a platform for ministerial roundtables and B2B investment matchmaking.

The Beehive is a modular, electricity-free cooling façade developed by Ant Studio in Delhi, India. It utilizes a terracotta beehive structure and recycled water to achieve evaporative cooling and natural ventilation. In a test at the Deki Electronics factory, the system reduced indoor temperatures from 42°C to 36°C and lowered airflow from 10 m/s to 4 m/s, offering a cost-effective and energy-efficient alternative to traditional air conditioning.

The document examines the failure of grant-based 'design, procure, install' models for electrifying public institutions, which often lead to premature system failure due to neglected operation and maintenance (O&M). It proposes a service-based model where private providers install and maintain systems over 10-15 years, with governments paying for performance verified by third parties. The brief identifies key barriers—including public sector affordability, private sector capital risks, and grid arrival—and presents case studies from Benin, Kenya, Niger, and Nigeria to demonstrate the model's potential.

The People-Centered Accelerator (PCA), a partnership of over 45 organizations, calls for an 'energy revolution' to address energy poverty and inefficiency. The statement emphasizes that achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) requires removing systemic barriers, such as limited financing for women, and implementing needs-based energy planning that accounts for gendered energy poverty. The PCA advocates for a just energy transition that is 'gender-responsive, youth-inclusive, locally-led and globally connected,' specifically through the adoption of a multi-stakeholder Gender and Energy Compact.

The UN High-level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE) resulted in the first-ever global roadmap for accelerating Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) and the announcement of over 160 Energy Compacts. These voluntary commitments from governments, businesses, and civil society include more than USD 400 billion in new finance and investment to address energy poverty and decarbonize energy systems. The dialogue established specific milestones for 2025 and 2030, including the phase-out of coal and the tripling of global renewable power capacity.

The document analyzes coal finance in 18 high-impact countries (HICs) in South Asia and Africa, highlighting that while global trends shift toward renewables, significant coal investment persists, largely driven by Chinese state-owned institutions. It argues that coal is an inefficient path to universal electricity access compared to distributed renewables and warns of stranded asset risks, citing overcapacity in Bangladesh and Pakistan.

The document highlights the critical role of cold storage in Rwanda's horticulture sector, where a lack of reliable electricity—with only 23 percent of the rural population having access in 2018—contributes to significant food losses, such as an estimated 56 percent of tomatoes. An FAO assessment indicates that achieving the government's export target of 46,000 tonnes of horticulture products by 2024 could create a market potential for solar cold storage of up to USD 6,105,000, assuming a 75 percent adoption rate.

The report outlines SEforALL's efforts to leverage the UN High-level Dialogue on Energy and COP26 to accelerate the energy transition. Key initiatives include the 'Be Bold' campaign for SDG7 and the Universal Energy Facility, which aims to provide 2 million new energy connections and displace 1 million fossil-fuel generators by 2023. Additionally, it notes a USD 1 billion fund established by the IKEA Foundation and The Rockefeller Foundation for distributed renewable energy.

Manamuz Electric LTD has developed a modular, solar-powered walk-in commercial refrigeration unit to provide 'cooling as a service' to rural farmers in Nigeria. A pilot project launched in July 2021 in the Ngwo community, Enugu State, has already integrated 151 farmers and stored over 6,000 kg of tomatoes. The innovation aims to address energy access gaps in the agricultural sector, reduce food waste, and increase farmer income by extending the shelf life of produce without relying on fossil fuels.

SEforALL reports on its leadership in organizing Ministerial Thematic Forums to secure Energy Compacts, its advocacy for eradicating energy poverty within the G20, and its technical support for national energy transitions in countries such as Nigeria and Rwanda. The organization also highlights the launch of practitioner tools for mini-grid emissions and sustainable cooling, alongside diplomatic engagements with the UAE and the US to accelerate the global energy transition toward SDG7.

The document details the application of reflective cool roofs in Bangladesh and Indonesia, demonstrating significant reductions in indoor and surface temperatures for low-income housing and industrial facilities.

The Powering Healthcare Solutions Catalogue provides a directory of companies offering off-grid energy systems and medical appliances for low-income regions. It highlights a variety of technical solutions, including plug-and-play systems, containerized microgrids, and solar-powered medical equipment, aimed at improving healthcare delivery in areas with unreliable electricity, such as Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Okra Solar provides modular, plug-and-play mesh-grid hardware and software that allows energy developers to deploy power rapidly and scale as demand grows. By utilizing rooftop installations and interlinked systems, the company aims to bypass land permit barriers and reduce distribution costs. A pilot project in Cambodia demonstrated the model's efficacy, energizing 140 households within two months of contract award using a 48.8kWp PV system. The company currently operates in Cambodia, The Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Haiti, with a target of reaching 10,000 connections within 12 months.

The Green Corridors programme in Medellín has significantly reduced urban temperatures and air pollution while creating employment and public spaces.

Cooking poverty affects 3.83 billion people across 71 countries, causing over four million deaths annually. The report argues that the current 'clean cooking' sector is fragmented and underfunded, with an annual funding gap of approximately $10 billion. It proposes a shift toward the term 'cooking poverty' to better reflect the scale of the crisis and suggests a 'Playbook' to centralize sector knowledge. Key recommendations include merging electrification and cooking efforts, utilizing carbon markets for small business finance, and adopting an incremental approach to transition households from unimproved to modern cooking.

Triomphant Tchulang developed the Bi-Solar Tech Fridge in Cameroon after a two-year period of refining a prototype to overcome issues with energy consistency, storage capacity, and temperature control. The project aims to mitigate the impact of high temperatures and heatwaves on community health and agricultural storage using solar energy.

The 2021 edition of the Chilling Prospects series tracks immediate vulnerability and health risks resulting from a lack of access to cooling across various populations and sectors.

The report details SEforALL's efforts over a 100-day period to accelerate the clean energy transition. Key activities include the launch of the 'Be Bold' campaign, coordination of the UN High-level Dialogue on Energy and its Energy Compacts, and supporting the COP26 Energy Transition Council. The organization also highlights research on sustainable cooling, a youth summit, and specific technical assistance for energy access in Nigeria and Sierra Leone, alongside a new healthcare electrification partnership with USAID and Power Africa.

The report evaluates fans, refrigerators, air coolers, and air conditioners for off-grid use, linking their power requirements to the World Bank's Multi-Tier Framework (MTF). It finds that efficiency gains allow cooling services to be accessible at lower energy tiers than previously thought. The document proposes a quality criteria framework (Rating A-D) to help investors and development programmes identify 'best available technologies' and recommends the use of results-based financing (RBF) and third-party testing to scale the market for sustainable, climate-friendly cooling.