Assam, like many other parts of India, is experiencing a significant rise in summer temperatures in recent years. Climate change projections indicate that Assam's average temperature could rise by 1.7°C to 2.2°C by mid-century. As temperatures increase the demand for cooling and refrigeration is becoming critical not only for people's health, well-being, and productivity but also for economic growth. Cooling is essential across key sectors such as buildings, cold chains, industries, and transportation. It plays a vital role in preserving food and vaccines through cold chains and ensuring the smooth operation of industries and transport infrastructure.

Given the economic transformation that state is undergoing currently, the demand for cooling is expected to rise significantly in the future. As we know, cooling relies heavily on electricity and use of refrigerants which have high global warming potential (GWP).  Managing this rising demand in a sustainable and climate responsive manner is essential for state’s long-term development.

To address this, WRI India in collaboration with Assam Climate Change Management Society (ACCMS), Govt. of Assam, is working towards development of a Cooling Action Plan for the state of Assam in line with the guidelines of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India. This plan focuses on four key sectors: buildings, cold chain, industry, and transport, with the overarching goal of promoting sustainable cooling solutions and mitigating associated GHG emissions.

As part of the project, the team has conducted several meetings with government departments, private sector, academia, and civil society. In addition, we have created working groups for the Buildings, Cold Chain, and Industry sectors, comprising of representatives from government departments, sector experts, private organizations, academia, and industry associations. These working groups are intended to provide expert input, guide the analysis, and support the development action plan.