In December, CLASP expanded its partnership with the Pakistan government to develop a national action plan for sustainable cooling. According to the US Department of Energy, Pakistan currently ranks 5th in the world for highest cooling demand. The National Cooling Action Plan, supported by the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program’s NDC Support Facility, will assess national cooling needs and define a path toward expanded sustainable cooling access.

Sustainable and Accessible Cooling in a Warming World

Pakistan has faced numerous deadly heat waves over the past decade, averaging 7 per year, with analyses projecting increased frequency over the coming decades. Reduced access to cooling in parts of the country exacerbate challenges related to extreme heat, unreliable food chains, and distribution of medical supplies, further strained by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Policymakers in Pakistan have demonstrated their commitment to improving the performance and accessibility of cooling appliances through other energy efficiency initiatives. In 2016, CLASP and the National Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (NEECA) collaborated on new energy efficiency policies for ceiling fans and conducted a major bulk procurement effort to replace energy-intensive fans with high-efficiency models.

More recently, CLASP partnered with NEECA to support their development of energy efficiency policies for electric motors, the country’s most impactful appliance policy to date in terms of carbon reductions.