-as country continues push to reduce carbon footprint

GUYANA is looking to reduce the energy consumption in the cooling sector, as the country continues to take steps towards reducing its carbon footprint, said Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder.

The step is being taken at a time when a 20 per cent increase was recorded in the importation of cooling equipment between 2016 and 2019. “This trend is expected to continue along with the possibility of dramatic escalation in these numbers in the coming years resulting in a concomitant increase in the consumption of energy in the sector,” said Minister Holder at a seminar on energy efficiency and alternative technologies for the cooling sector, at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, on Tuesday.

According to statistics provided by the minister, cooling, although recognised as an important technology, is also one of the highest consumers of energy in Guyana. It is estimated that this sector accounts for approximately 17 per cent of energy consumed worldwide.

“Guyana continues to take steps to reduce our energy consumption in this sector through the promotion of energy efficient cooling technologies and practices,” said Minister Holder.
He believes that, given the increasing demand for and the use of cooling technologies in the current and emerging sectors, it is imperative that the technological, environmental and capacity deficiencies in this sector be addressed to ensure that growth in this sector does not undermine emission reductions and energy efficiency gains in other sectors.
In that regard, Minister Holder was optimistic that the seminar will build on the many actions taking place nationally, regionally and globally to expose relevant stakeholders to information and practices to guide the development of policies. It will also guide choice of technologies and improve practices within the cooling sector, with the aim of minimising the sector’s long-term carbon footprint on the planet.

“We recognise the need for actions taken nationally through these programmes to be needs focused and country driven,” said the minister, adding that there should be proposed policies and actions that should epitomise and be reflective of national goals and long term development strategy. His view is that the areas to be discussed during the seminar are synonymous with the current development initiatives and will contribute to the construct of responsive policies and practices within the cooling sector.

The seminar also forms part of Guyana’s work and obligations in keeping with the Kigali Amendment for the phasing out of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol.
The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol was entered into force on January 1, 2019 and aims to phase down HFC refrigerants and has the potential to avoid up to 0.1?C of warming by 2050 and up to 0.4? by 2100.

According to the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, the economic, environmental, and health benefits of catalysing simultaneous energy efficiency improvements, in concert with the HFC phase down, supports reduced energy consumption and avoided emissions of CO2 and black carbon, which can potentially double the climate benefit of the phase down alone.

The efficient cooling initiative brings together governments, intergovernmental organisations, and the private sector to build high-level political leadership and facilitate collaboration among stakeholders. The aim is to enhance energy efficiency in the cooling sector while countries implement the phase-down of HFC refrigerants under the Montreal Protocol.