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Cool Up contributes practical implementation insights on sustainable cooling and electrification

Advancing electrification in the MENA region at SBSTA64

On 15 June 2026, Cool Up participated in SBSTA64 in Bonn, where Programme Director Katja Eisbrenner moderated the side event “Innovation and Solutions to 2030+: Renewables, Efficiency, CO₂-neutral Fuels, CO₂-negative Materials”, focusing on advancing electrification in the MENA region.  The session, held at the World Conference Center Bonn, explored how cross-sector electrification, sustainable cooling, and renewable energy integration can support climate action and decarbonisation. 

Cross-sector electrification as a key driver 

Electrification is increasingly transforming energy systems across multiple sectors, including buildings, industry, transport, and power systems. The discussion highlighted: 

  1. The growing role of heat pumps and efficient cooling technologies in buildings. 
  2. Increasing electrification of industrial processes and transport systems. 
  3. Rising electricity demand driven by cooling needs. 
  4. The importance of grid flexibility to manage renewable energy integration. 

In the MENA region, electrification is expected to significantly increase its share in final energy consumption, underlining the need for coordinated approaches across sectors. 

 

Implementation examples from Cool Up and partner initiatives 

The session presented practical examples from implementation programmes, including Cool Up. The programme highlighted its work in Türkiye, focusing on: 

  1. Demonstrating sustainable cooling technologies 
  2. Supporting low-emission solutions 
  3. Identifying replication pathways for broader market uptake 

These activities are carried out in collaboration with Cool Up country partners UNDP Türkiye, RSS, IDG, and LCEE, contributing to capacity building and cross-sector knowledge transfer. 

 

Integrated approaches to electrification 

The discussion emphasised the importance of combining: 

  1. Policy frameworks 
  2. Financial mechanisms 
  3. Technical innovation 

Such integrated approaches are essential to accelerate implementation and enable energy system transformation in the MENA region. 

 

Impact and implications 

The session demonstrated how practical, scalable solutions can: 

  1. Support market transformation in sustainable cooling 
  2. Enable renewable energy integration 
  3. Strengthen capacity building and implementation 
  4. Bridge gaps between sector stakeholders 

These contributions support ongoing international climate discussions and provide actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners. 

 

Cool Up’s participation in SBSTA64 reinforced the importance of real-world implementation examples in advancing electrification and climate action. The programme will continue to support scalable solutions and cross-sector collaboration to accelerate the transition towards low-emission, climate-resilient systems in the MENA region.