FG unveils ‘cooling action plan’ to reduce emissions from refrigerants

The federal government has unveiled the national cooling action plan (N-CAP) as a way to reduce the emission of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) from refrigerants. 

Mohammed Abdullahi, minister of environment, said this on Friday in Abuja, at an event to commemorate the World Ozone Day celebrated every September 16.

According to ecofeet, a waste management business, a refrigerant is “a substance used in a heat cycle to transfer heat from one area, and remove it to another” and is commonly found in refrigerators and air conditioning systems.

Abdullahi said N-CAP would encourage the phase-down of HFCs which contribute to global warming, and support the uptake of climate-friendly alternative refrigerants.

He added that the implementation of the N-CAP can contribute to significant lower greenhouse gas emissions and a reduction in electricity demand.

“The N-CAP includes the pathway for the country’s transition to low global warming potential (GWP) and energy efficient (EE) technologies, with coherent policies and regulations while implementing the Kigali Amendment,” he said.

“The N-CAP will provide us with the needed strategies for sustainable cooling amidst the country’s security challenges. With the transition to energy efficient and low GWP technologies, implementation of the N-CAP can lower greenhouse gas emissions by 44 percent of the business-as-usual scenario and a 30 percent reduction in electricity demand by 2050.

“The N-CAP also recognises residential air conditioners and domestic refrigerators as the two major sub-sectors with huge energy consumption that can easily be harnessed to reduce the country’s emissions and improve energy efficiency.

“In order to ensure the operationalisation of the N-CAP, an implementation plan was developed and agreed upon by stakeholders. The plan includes the strategies to be adopted, activities or actions to ensure the success of these strategies, the responsible parties, and timeline.

“A major strategy of the N-CAP that will support the transformation of the market of in-efficient cooling appliances to more efficient ones is the rebate scheme, where a large number of energy efficient cooling appliances need to be procured and exchanged with obsolete and inefficient ones at a subsidised price.”

Abdullahi also called on financial institutions and development partners to support the government on the project.

“This requires adequate funding. For this scheme, we hope that banks and other financial institutions will cooperate with us to support its financing by managing and disbursing its available funds,” he said.

“The bank’s cooperation will also be needed in the procurement of efficient air conditioners that meet the level of the minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) as recommended in the N-CAP or even higher. These efficient ACs can be installed in banks, ATM rooms, and other spaces within the banking hall.

“I wish to also call on our development partners to support the government in the implementation of the N-CAP by providing additional funding for the rebate scheme.

“However, we have commenced discussions with the French Facility for Global Environment, through the French Development Agency to secure some funding to carry out a pilot rebate scheme for in-efficient cooling appliances.”

Jean Bakole, country representative and regional director of UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), said the reduction of HFCs is climate action, because it “could avoid as much as 0.5°C of global warming by the end of the century, which is a major compliment to the Paris Agreement on climate change which targets 2°C”.

He added that his organisation will continue to support Nigeria to promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation development without compromising the environment.