Policy and market interventions to achieve sustainable cooling for all in Kenya
Kenya is positioned to achieve sustainable cooling for all by leveraging its national strategies and international commitments. Priority areas for policy and market interventions are recommended to strengthen the country’s political landscape and enable sustainable cooling for all. The recommendations focus on integrating existing efforts, addressing policy gaps, and enhancing information, awareness, and capacity at both national and local levels.
Integrate cooling with national and subnational energy, climate and development policies
Given the broad impact of insufficient access to sustainable cooling, it is essential to embed cooling needs into key national and local agendas, including energy, climate, and socio-economic development plans. Highlighting the carbon emissions reduction potential from sustainable cooling in Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and updating the National Climate Action Plan (NCAP) to include these strategies can help ‘right-size’ demand for mechanical cooling. This approach also involves integrating sustainable cooling and cold chain interventions with energy access efforts, particularly in rural healthcare and agricultural sectors. Furthermore, revisions to the NCAP should incorporate gender considerations to ensure gender equality in access to sustainable cooling.
Establish a coordinating ‘cooling’ committee to provide cross-ministerial and sector support, build institutional capacities and implementation frameworks
Effective coordination is crucial for implementing interventions to advance equitable and sustainable cooling. A dedicated coordinating body should be established, with clear governance structures and mechanisms for inter-ministerial collaboration. This body would facilitate cross-sectoral coordination, enhance institutional capacities, and provide oversight and accountability for cooling initiatives. It would also serve as a national hub for sustainable cooling knowledge, support the development of sustainable cold chains, and mobilize funding for innovative, energy-efficient cooling technologies. Additionally, this committee would track and update progress toward NCAP goals and foster partnerships to address the challenges of sustainable cooling.
Enable ‘Cool Cities’ through a call to action, city networks and leading-by-example
Urban areas, particularly new and expanding towns, are at heightened risk of heat exposure, making it necessary to focus on urban cooling efforts. Flagship counties and cities should be encouraged to develop integrated strategies addressing urban cooling and heat mitigation. These strategies should include increasing green spaces and water bodies, developing public cooling infrastructure, and prioritizing low-global warming potential, high-efficiency cooling technologies. Additionally, city-to-city learning networks should be established to facilitate knowledge sharing and scaling of cooling actions across regions. City and county governments can lead by example by adopting stringent efficiency standards for their buildings and cooling appliances and adopting sustainable cooling practices. Such efforts can benefit transforming existing cities and communities to ‘Cool Cities’ as well.
Increase the adoption of passive and nature-based cooling in buildings
To prevent buildings from exacerbating heat exposure or increasing cooling demand, Kenya should update its National Building Code with explicit passive cooling measures and enhanced energy efficiency requirements for cooling equipment. Passive cooling strategies, such as optimizing window-to-wall ratios, shading guidelines, and roof specifications, should be integrated into building codes. Additionally, guidelines for low-income housing, public sector leadership in energy efficiency, and training for professionals in passive cooling practices should be developed to promote sustainable cooling in the building sector. Nature-based solutions can be also encouraged with design guidelines.
Accelerate the transition to model MEPS and participate in regional harmonization of MEPS
To expedite the adoption of energy-efficient cooling appliances, Kenya should align its MEPS with the United for Efficiency (U4E) model regulations by 2025, ahead of the harmonized MEPS timeline from the EAC timeline. This would position Kenya as a regional leader and catalyse a market shift towards more efficient appliances. The transition should be supported by stringent import policies, periodic MEPS updates, and a robust labeling programme to raise awareness among consumers and ensure compliance.
Stimulate market demand and drive behaviour change for energy efficiency
To drive the adoption of energy-efficient products, the Kenyan government should launch bulk and government procurement programmes for energy-efficient appliances in state-owned facilities for cost reduction and creating initial market demand. Additionally, behaviour change initiatives, such as enforcing space cooling temperature limits and promoting the use of low-GWP refrigerants, should be encouraged. These actions, supplemented by fiscal and financial incentives and training, will help reduce energy consumption and promote sustainable cooling practices.
Enhance access to low climate-impact cooling and cold chain for agriculture and healthcare
Modernizing cold chain infrastructure is vital for reducing post-harvest losses and improving food safety and security in Kenya. This can be achieved through public-private partnerships, investments, and technology adoption. Establishing a government-backed centre for sustainable cold chain development, conducting energy audits in the healthcare and agriculture sector to identify and prioritizing cooling needs, and implementing training programmes across the cooling value chain are recommended to advance sustainable cold chains.
Promote sustainable cooling awareness
Raising awareness about sustainable cooling practices is crucial for driving societal shifts towards more sustainable lifestyles. Public awareness campaigns should be launched to educate consumers and businesses on energy conservation, sustainable cooling practices, long-term cost reduction and various socio-economic benefits. These campaigns, supported by global networks like the Cool Coalition, will help reduce energy demand and lessen environmental impact, contributing to the broader goals of sustainable development in Kenya.
Increase investment and finance for sustainable cooling for all in Kenya
Strategies to increase finance for sustainable cooling include the use of co-financing, revolving funds, and guarantees to make loans for energy-efficient and sustainable cooling more accessible. Catalytic financing instruments, such as green bonds and blended finance, can attract private sector investment by mitigating risks. Building a pipeline of investable companies through enhanced business advisory services is crucial to improving demand for climate finance. Additionally, promoting Kenya’s climate investment opportunities and fostering collaboration between financial institutions and sustainable cooling stakeholders will enhance connectivity and overcome barriers. Public fiscal measures and financing tools, such as grants, tax incentives and capacity building, are also essential to support the adoption of cold chain technologies, particularly in agriculture.
By implementing these interventions, Kenya can advance towards achieving sustainable cooling for all. These efforts will not only address the immediate cooling needs of the population but also contribute to broader goals of poverty alleviation, gender equality, and sustainable economic development. Through coordinated action, innovative financing, and widespread awareness, Kenya can set a precedent for sustainable cooling solutions across Africa.