With a long term vision to address the cooling requirement across sectors and list out actions which can help reduce the cooling demand, India has developed an action plan that can help reduce the cooling demand. Known as India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP), it was launched on March 8, 2019 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Cooling requirement is cross sectoral and an essential part for economic growth; different sectors of the economy such as residential and commercial buildings, cold-chain, refrigeration, transport, and industries need it.
Earlier, on September 16, 2018, the draft India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) was released by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on the eve of the World Ozone Day (September 16). It aimed to provide sustainable cooling while keeping in mind, at the same time, the need to protect the ozone layer from substances that can deplete it. It provides a 20-year perspective, with projections for cooling needs in 2037-38.
India is one of the first countries in the world to develop such a document (ICAP) which addresses cooling requirement across sectors.
The overarching goal of the plan is to provide sustainable cooling and thermal comfort for all while securing environmental and socio-economic benefits for the society. This will help in reducing both direct and indirect emissions.
India Cooling Action Plan broadly aims to assess cooling requirements across sectors over the next 20 years the associated refrigerant demand and energy use; map the technologies available to cater to cooling requirements including passive interventions, refrigerant-based technologies, and alternative technologies; and develop R&D innovation ecosystem for indigenous development of alternative technologies.
ICAP is in keeping with India’s commitment to the Montreal Protocol (reduction of ozone depleting substances) as well as the Paris Agreement (reduction of emission intensity) to meet the challenges of climate change.
The ICAP of India provides an integrated vision towards cooling across sectors encompassing, among other things, reduction of cooling demand, refrigerant transition, enhancing energy efficiency, and better technology options with a twenty year time frame.
The goals emerging from the suggested interventions stated in ICPA are:
(i) reducing cooling demand across different sectors by 20–25 per cent by 2037–38;
(ii) reducing refrigerant demand by 25–30 per cent by 2037–38;
(iii) reducing cooling energy requirements by 25–40 per cent by 2037–38;
(iv) recognising ”cooling and related areas” as a thrust area of research under national S&T Programme and training; and
(v) certifying of 100,000 servicing sector technicians by 2022-23, synergising with Skill India Mission.
All the actions will play a significant role in meeting the challenge of climate change.
The plan focuses on room air conditioners because it is responsible for majority of energy consumption in space cooling. According to it, around 8 per cent of households in India have room air conditioners which is projected to rise 21 per cent in 2027-28 and 40 per cent in 2037. The plan recommends adoption of 5-star-labelled (most energy efficient) fans and room air conditioners. It recommends passively cooled building designs with natural and mechanical ventilation and adoption of thermal comfort standards. It also calls for energy efficient and renewable energy based cold chains.
Above the environmental concerns which include thermal comfort for all, the plan also envisages provision for cooling for economically weaker sections (EWS) and lower income group (LIG) housing. The plan recommends thermal comfort strategies for affordable house projects under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for EWS. In this context, the interventions suggest that cool roofs absorb less heat, therefore off-grid micro-cooling systems and heat action plans are better options to deal with peak summer temperature. It recommends sustainable cooling—low Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions related to cooling. The plan aims for doubling farmers’ income; better cold chain infrastructure and better value of produce to farmers, and less wastage of produce. It calls for skilled workforce for better livelihoods and environmental protection, encourages make-in-India domestic manufacturing of air-conditioning and related cooling equipment accompanied with robust R&D on alternative cooling technologies to provide push to innovation in cooling sector.
Cooling is directly linked to human health and productivity. Linkages of cooling with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are well acknowledged. The cross-sectoral nature of cooling and its use in development of the economy makes provision for cooling an important developmental necessity. Therefore, the development of ICAP is a multi-stakeholder inclusive process.