Center for Low Emission Cooling Transition
Decarbonising cooling across the Global South — through evidence-based market transformation, policy advocacy, and the LC4 collective.
The Cooling Crisis
Cooling is no longer a comfort issue. It is a matter of survival and economic stability. The challenge falls hardest on emerging economies, which face the greatest cooling need, the fastest demand growth, and the least access to efficient solutions.
of global electricity consumed by air conditioners
1projected annual cooling emissions by 2050
2rise in global cooling demand by 2050
3people globally without access to cooling
4In India, each 1°C temperature rise adds 7 GW to peak electricity demand.5 Ambitious policy and finance action can reduce space-cooling energy needs by over 45% globally.6
Seven Root Causes
Low-carbon cooling solutions that cut energy use by more than half already exist. Uptake remains far below potential. C-LECT has identified seven structural barriers.
No Quantitative Goals
Organisations lack specific, measurable cooling-energy reduction targets. Without targets, accountability cannot be established.
Building-Industry Blind Spot
Architects, developers, and contractors remain largely unaware of their role in reducing cooling demand. The discourse is narrowed to equipment efficiency alone.
No Sustainable Business Models
Conventional industry actors lack viable models to move toward energy efficiency. Without a commercial case, systemic change does not happen.
Pilots Do Not Scale
The transition from pilot to mainstream is left to market forces that consistently favour the lowest first-cost option.
No Transparent Measurement
Most initiatives lack rigorous measurement and verification, undermining confidence among end-users and investors.
Large Actors Underengaged
Insufficient focus on government bodies, major corporates, and public utilities that have the procurement power to lead market transformation.
No Shared Platform
The absence of an accessible platform leads to parallel efforts, duplicated cost, and missed cross-learning opportunities.
Introducing LC4
An outcome-driven platform for committed actors to deliver measurable emission reductions.
Reduce the Need for Cooling
Climate-responsive building design, improved envelopes, shading, natural ventilation, and urban heat-island mitigation. These passive techniques can cut cooling loads before any mechanical system is sized.
Decarbonise the Cooling That Remains
High-efficiency equipment, district cooling, thermal energy storage, natural refrigerants, and next-generation low-carbon technologies — deployed at scale, today.
LC4 Goals
50%
reduction in cooling-related building emissions by 2030
USD 1B
in financing mobilised by 2030
Implementation — Six Phases
A structured pathway from assessment to verified impact.
Assess
Detailed assessment of each partner’s cooling needs, energy consumption, and carbon intensity. Establish baseline and identify highest-impact interventions.
Action Plan
Co-develop detailed action plans for passive cooling measures and low-carbon technologies.
Pilot & Deploy
Support design, procurement, and implementation. Connect partners with technology providers and financing within the collective.
Roadmap
Develop a partner-specific low-carbon cooling roadmap with quantitative emission-reduction targets and a prioritised action plan.
Technology Selection
Independent technical assistance in evaluating and selecting interventions — factoring in local climate, grid carbon intensity, first cost, lifecycle cost, and scalability.
Measure & Verify
Rigorous M&V to track progress against targets, validate emission reductions, and generate evidence to scale.
Assess
Detailed assessment of each partner’s cooling needs, energy consumption, and carbon intensity. Establish baseline and identify highest-impact interventions.
Roadmap
Develop a partner-specific low-carbon cooling roadmap with quantitative emission-reduction targets and a prioritised action plan.
Action Plan
Co-develop detailed action plans for passive cooling measures and low-carbon technologies.
Technology Selection
Independent technical assistance in evaluating and selecting interventions — factoring in local climate, grid carbon intensity, first cost, lifecycle cost, and scalability.
Pilot & Deploy
Support design, procurement, and implementation. Connect partners with technology providers and financing within the collective.
Measure & Verify
Rigorous M&V to track progress against targets, validate emission reductions, and generate evidence to scale.
Real Impact, Real Partners
LC4 has secured commitments and delivered technical assistance across India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.
Indian Railways
Energy efficiency action plan developed and mandated across all zonal railways. Demonstration projects at RPF Barracks and Baroda House.
EESL
Tender awarded for 20,000 super-efficient ACs — 25% more efficient than the BEE 5-Star benchmark.
NTPC
Net-zero roadmap developed for townships and offices, incorporating district cooling and efficiency incentives.
Maldives MCCEE
Energy management guide for 200+ government schools. Standards and labelling programme extended to ceiling fans.
CHAI
Market-transformation strategy developed for room ACs. Consumer-finance discussions under way with major banks.
Private Sector
Commitments from Carrier Technologies India, Voltas, Daikin, IHCL, John Keells (Sri Lanka), Cargills Ceylon PLC.
Why Act Now
Cooling infrastructure installed today locks in emissions for 15–20 years. Early intervention shapes the market permanently. Under the IEA's Efficient Cooling Scenario, ambitious policy and finance action now could reduce space-cooling energy needs by over 45%.6
Join the Transition
LC4 welcomes partnerships with organisations committed to measurable climate impact at scale.
Sources & References
- 1.IEA, 'The Future of Cooling,' 2023. Air conditioners and electric fans already account for roughly 10% of global electricity consumption.
- 2.UNEP & IEA, 'Cooling Emissions and Policy Synthesis Report,' 2025. Cooling-related emissions are projected to reach 7.2 Gt CO₂ per year by 2050 — nearly double 2022 levels.
- 3.IEA, 'The Future of Cooling,' 2023. Global cooling demand is expected to triple by 2050, driven overwhelmingly by emerging and developing economies in the tropics.
- 4.Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), 'Chilling Prospects: Tracking Sustainable Cooling for All,' 2025. An estimated 1.2 billion people worldwide lack access to cooling.
- 5.IEA, 'India Energy Outlook,' 2021; Central Electricity Authority (CEA), India. Each 1°C rise in ambient temperature adds approximately 7 GW to India’s peak electricity demand.
- 6.IEA, 'Energy Efficiency 2024.' Ambitious policy and finance action can reduce space-cooling energy needs by over 45% globally under the Efficient Cooling Scenario.