Businesses in the HVAC market were high-profile participants at the COP28 conference in Dubai. Several big HVAC companies had a presence at the conference, and the industry’s technologies are an important tool to achieve the conference’s stated climate goal of net-zero global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
COP28
The Conference of Parties of the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) took place Nov. 30-Dec. 12 in Dubai. Some 35,000 people were involved in negotiating the next stage of strategies to address the climate crisis.
Attendees included pioneers from international organizations, national and local governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and pioneering companies. About 15% of attendees at COP28 represented various business and industry sectors.
Global Cooling Pledge
They pledge to pursue the goals through better energy efficiency, a climate-friendly approach
An outcome of the conference is the “Global Cooling Pledge,” intended to increase efforts and cooperation through joint targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to cooling. The pledge is a series of commitments by governments to accelerate emission reductions from energy use and refrigerants toward near-zero emissions.
They pledge to pursue the goals through better energy efficiency, a climate-friendly approach, and expanding access to sustainable air conditioning.
Decarbonization
“Decarbonization of the buildings sector is an imperative for meeting global climate targets,” commented Katie McGinty, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer of Johnson Controls.
“The technology exists to make near-zero emissions and climate-resilient buildings the new normal by 2030.”
net-zero building technologies
Working together, pioneers across civil society and the private sector can rapidly deploy these climate solutions"
Johnson Controls is committed to helping to drive leadership on net-zero building technologies into the future. At COP28, the company sponsored a kick-off event panel discussion on decarbonizing the built environment.
“Working together, pioneers across civil society and the private sector can rapidly deploy these climate solutions affordably, accelerating adoption of the technologies at a time when they are most needed, and can do the best,” said McGinty.
sustainable cooling
Recognizing the need to act on cooling, industrial equipment provider Danfoss joined with more than 60 government and other pioneering corporations to endorse the Global Cooling Pledge to support sustainable cooling. Action is needed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F).
“Cooling is one of the biggest societal opportunities of our time,” said Jürgen Fischer, President, of Danfoss Climate Solutions. “It is needed everywhere to cool our food, our buildings, and our vaccines. It brings health, growth, and food security for the world’s population.”
climate-friendly cooling technologies
However, the Global Cooling Pledge needs to extend beyond a pledge and result in action
However, the Global Cooling Pledge needs to extend beyond a pledge and result in action, says Fischer. “We must now see [the implementation] of technologies readily available today [to] spread sustainable, energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling technologies around the globe.”
In addition to commitments by governments in the Global Cooling Pledge, there are also calls for cooperation in the private sector. It requires the support of private companies, financial institutions, and other entities to help governments achieve the goals outlined in the pledge.
centrally powered chiller
Cooling of buildings represents more than half of electricity consumption from cooling and is the most important driver for peak electricity demand. Energy demand from the cooling of homes is expected to grow threefold by 2050 if no measures are taken.
One approach to minimizing global warming is district cooling, which saves up to 50% of energy usage by circulating chilled water through pipelines to cool buildings. A centrally powered chiller can shift cold-water production away from peak hours and adapt to renewable energies.
cooling-related emissions
Daikin Industries exhibited its highly efficient inverter air conditioners, which contribute to 50% energy savings
“District cooling and the phase-out of refrigerants with a high impact on global warming are two examples of many that can make a difference,” says Fischer. “Technologies and solutions to reduce cooling-related emissions are already in use around the world, and I urge the pioneers behind the Global Cooling Pledge to see them in action. Seeing is believing.”
At the COP28 Japan Pavilion, Daikin Industries exhibited its highly efficient inverter air conditioners, which contribute to 50% energy savings.
low-GWP refrigerant R32
“As a pioneering air conditioning company with global operations, Daikin has led the industry in promoting the use of high-efficiency inverter air conditioners and the low-GWP refrigerant R32,” says Katsuyuki Sawai, Senior Executive Officer, of Global Environment, for Daikin.
“These efforts are in line with the direction of the Global Cooling Pledge and will continue to expand these initiatives around the world to help achieve the goals of the pledge.”
high-efficiency inverter air conditioners
Variable-speed high-efficiency inverter air conditioners precisely control the rotation speed of the air conditioner
Variable-speed high-efficiency inverter air conditioners precisely control the rotation speed of the air conditioner compressor in line with ambient conditions to reduce electric power consumption.
While the ratio of air conditioners equipped with inverter technology has reached nearly 100% in the Japanese and European markets, such levels are still low in the rest of the world, including the United States, the Middle East Africa, and Asia. More awareness of this equipment is needed. Broader usage would have an immediate impact, says Daikin.
reducing carbon footprints
Emerson, a global automation software and technology company, also lent its voice and expertise to the conversations at COP28. “It is encouraging to see how many companies are working to reduce their carbon footprints and engage with clean energy innovations,” said Mike Train, Emerson’s Chief Sustainability Officer.
“Across the globe, there are ground-breaking, at-scale examples in hydrogen, EV batteries, biofuels, energy and emissions management, circularity, grid resiliency, and more.”
Reimagine the Future of Energy
Mathias Schinzel, Emerson’s Middle East and Africa President, participated in the world’s largest youth energy summit
Train says collaboration is key to designing and building projects, putting productive policies and processes in place, and driving investment into broader adoption.
At COP28, Mathias Schinzel, Emerson’s Middle East and Africa President, participated in the world’s largest youth energy summit under the theme of “Reimagine the Future of Energy.”
digitalization and artificial intelligence
The company also participated in Climate Action’s Sustainable Innovation Forum panel discussion on how digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) can accelerate business models to support sustainable circularity.
In addition to participating in other panels, Emerson was a Climate Supporter for COP28 and provided an innovation exhibit in Expo City highlighting technologies to decarbonize traditional industries while accelerating energy sectors like hydrogen, biofuels, and electrification.
