Countries Urged to Establish National Cooling Committees for Food, Health, and Climate Challenges

Addressing Critical Challenges through National Cooling Committees

On June 26, 2025, the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) called upon all nations to recognize the indispensable role of refrigeration as essential infrastructure in ensuring health, food safety, energy efficiency, and climate sustainability. This initiative coincided with World Refrigeration Day, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts in sustainable refrigeration technology across diverse sectors.

Call to Action

The IIR has urged governments to establish National Cooling Committees. These entities are intended to serve as platforms for intersectoral collaboration, bringing together stakeholders from various fields, including public and private entities, technical experts, and policymakers. The primary goal is to develop effective and inclusive national strategies for refrigeration that address a wide range of applications—from cryogenic technologies and low-temperature uses to food and health cold chains, air conditioning, and heat pumps. This multi-faceted approach is seen as crucial for strengthening food systems, public health initiatives, industrial development, and climate action efforts.

Global Support for the Initiative

The IIR's appeal resonates with discussions from the World Refrigeration Day high-level event held in Paris on June 18, which brought together over 170 representatives from governments, businesses, and international organizations from more than 60 nations. Underlining refrigeration's role as a foundational infrastructure, leaders advocated for its recognition as a critical priority in both national and global agendas.

As articulated by Yosr Allouche, the IIR's Director General, "This decade will see sustainable refrigeration transform our societies. We must be visionary, disruptive, and inclusive.” National leaders from diverse regions emphasized how refrigeration contributes to clean energy, food security, and economic inclusion, illustrating its systemic value in addressing pressing global challenges.

The Role of National Cooling Committees

The proposed National Cooling Committees aim to bridge various ministries, the private sector, and academic institutions. Their joint efforts will ensure policy coherence, align investments, and facilitate the development of a skilled workforce, thereby strengthening national capacities in refrigeration. This integrated strategy is crucial, particularly in emerging economies, as highlighted during the event by representatives from organizations such as UNESCO, the UNIDO, and the World Bank. The emphasis was placed on proactive engagement in sustainable cooling practices to maximize early action benefits across developing sectors under the Kigali Amendment commitments.

Industry Innovations and Future Directions

The event also showcased pioneering innovations from industry leaders like Carrier Transicold and Daikin Europe, focusing on the use of natural refrigerants, thermal integration, and innovative cold chain solutions. However, participants stressed the necessity for favorable policies and predictable investments to support these advancements.

Moreover, the IIR’s launch of the Global Refrigeration Outlook, a new series of flagship reports aimed at guiding policy, science, and finance concerning refrigeration issues, was well-received by attendees. This initiative is expected to foster a comprehensive understanding of refrigeration’s implications in the broader context of climate resilience and development.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the recognition of refrigeration as a systemic global issue that can drive rapid and equitable gains underscores the IIR’s vision for the future. As countries consider forming National Cooling Committees, they stand at the forefront of an essential transformation to prioritize refrigeration as an infrastructure that underpins health, food security, climate resilience, and economic sustainability.