Cool Up’s Marta Kakol and Mustafa Abunofal from Guidehouse participated in a side event at the 1st IIR International Conference on Refrigeration Adapting to Rising Temperatures, held from 10–13 August 2025 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Organized by the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) in collaboration with the Institute of Refrigeration (IOR), DESNZ, the University of Manchester, and the International Refrigeration Committee, the event convened 120 participants and featured 48 technical papers focused on the challenges of cooling in a warming world.

The team presented in the opening session “Net Zero Approaches and Solutions” introducing Cool Up’s comparative policy scenario analysis on sustainable cooling in the MENA region. The study titled “The Impact of Diverse Sustainable Cooling Policy Scenarios on the Reduction of GHG-emissions in the MENA Region: a Comparative Policy Scenario Analysis.” examines how different sustainable cooling pathways can help break the cycle of cooling-driven emissions in the MENA region. It offers policy insights derived from scenario modelling and expert interviews conducted in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon. The presentation was followed by meaningful dialogue on regional collaboration, demo projects, and technician training programs.