New EU-funded project launched to help gauge the impact of cooling in a warming world

The increase for global cooling demand comes in hand with an increase of emissions caused among others by F-Gases which are used in essential modern applications like refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pumps. F-Gases are potent GHGs with significant global warming potential, which contribute in turn to climate change. Among other international agreements, the Kigali Amendment of the Montreal Protocol aims to break this vicious cycle, however policy makers face at the same time the complex challenge of balancing their obligations with broader objectives, such as improving energy efficiency, expanding cooling access, supporting electrification, and achieving long-term decarbonisation goals.

 

The new EU-funded project IMPACT-F, or the Integrated Mitigation Platform for Assessing Climate Targets for F-gases, aims to help governments develop more effective cooling and climate policies by providing access to advanced modelling tools. In many countries, limited data availability and modelling capability create significant challenges for evidence-based policy development and decision-making.

 

Underpinned by its global consortium, IMPACT-F focuses on countries outlined in Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol, and seeks to build relationships with policymakers, industry members, international organisations, civil society organisations, academia, and more. IMPACT-F will develop a state-of-the-art global modelling platform that enables policymakers to compare different policy pathways and understand their implications for F-gas emissions, energy demand and decarbonisation outcomes, while visualizing and projecting at the same time F-Gas use at global, regional, and national levels.

 

The platform sets out to capture an accurate picture of cooling-related emissions across the world and supports decarbonisation efforts in line with global climate targets. The project also algins with the goals of the Paris agreement and the Global Cooling Pledge which was signed as of today by 72 countries and to curb cooling-related emissions by 68% by 2050. Effective policies designed using sophisticated modelling tools will play a critical role in the path to unlock sustainable cooling.

 

IMPACT-F brings together 14 consortium partners, ranging across academia, research technology organisations (RTOs), intergovernmental organisations, industry associations, training providers and consultants. Hailing from Asia, Africa, Europe and South America, these partner organisations bring their expertise to the table and seek to target an array of beneficiaries and user groups. To ensure usability, the project will also deliver dedicated training programmes to be delivered globally across a variety of users.

As part of the European Commission’s Horizon Europe programme, IMPACT-F also benefits from the intergovernmental expertise of organisations such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as a non-funded member, as well as the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR). Through their network of experts sharing national, regional, and global insights on HFC emissions, these intergovernmental organisations help tackle the diverse and complex nature of the project. Specialist consultancies contributing to the development of the platform include Gluckman Consulting and Guidehouse, while industry associations from Europe, Asia, Africa and South America are represented by ACAIRE, AAF, ECREEE, TRA, and EHPA. The Centro Studi Galileo (CSG) joins in as a training organisation, and the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) and the London South Bank University (LSBU) participate as academic and research technology organisations. Additionally, the LSBU contributes as a project coordinator ensuring the smooth operations and impactful results of the IMPACT-F project. Together, the team of partner organisations bring together an inter-disciplinary approach to deliver the best knowledge and outcomes for the project. This collaborative approach ensures a better understanding of F-gas use and pathways to decarbonise – all while balancing social, economic, and environmental sustainability needs.

 

IMPACT-F is scheduled to run over a duration of 36 months – from June 2026 to May 2029. Kicked off on June 1st 2026, the LSBU hosted the inaugural meeting for the IMPACT-F project on June 30th and July 1st 2026. The meeting provided a platform to all consortium members to connect and align on their priorities and expectations regarding the project, and an opportunity for each consortium member to present their Work Packages and envisioned deliverables for the project. Through workshops on platform design, data collection, policy pathways and stakeholder engagement, a collaborative approach lies at the foundation of the project.

Scientific excellence, policy impact, and benefits to the industry and society are central to ensuring the maximum uptake and long-term relevance of the IMPACT-F project. The seven work packages are laid out to ensure an efficient flow of information and coordination across the various tasks as well as the consortium partners.

 

Note to editors: The IMPACT-F project sets out to develop an integrated web platform for visualising and projecting F-Gas use globally, by region and at country level and its implications to the environment and decarbonisation efforts, therefore promoting coordinated action between F-Gas phase-down targets and other relevant policies. Using the successful HFC Outlook Model as a foundation, IMPACT-F will replicate their proven methodology to develop a new platform that is fully flexible for users and enables the comparison on how different policy pathways interact, considering both F-Gas and decarbonisation targets globally. The IMPACT-F platform will be supported by extensive data collection and incorporate new scenarios covering relevant trends that are likely to drive demand for F-Gases in different regions of the world

For more information and updates on the project, please contact k.sharma@iifiir.org