OEWG-47 Side Event Highlights Urgent Need for Sustainable Cooling in Data Centres

Bangkok, 7 July 2025 – The side event titled “Cooling Systems Emissions from Data Centres”, held during OEWG-47 at the UNCC in Bangkok, concluded successfully, drawing attention to one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions: data centre cooling systems. Organised by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), with support from UNEP United for Efficiency (U4E), the event brought together experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss sustainable solutions for managing emissions from data centre cooling.

 

A Growing Challenge

 

Opening remarks by Ms. Souhir Al-Hammami (IIR) and Ms. Denise San Valentin (CCAC Secretariat, UNEP) set the tone for the session, emphasising the critical intersection of digital infrastructure and environmental sustainability. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global data centre electricity consumption in 2022 was estimated at 240 to 340 terawatt-hours, and roughly 1–1.3% of global electricity demand.

 

Looking ahead, the IEA projects that electricity demand from data centres will more than double by 2030, reaching around 945 TWh – equivalent to the entire electricity consumption of Japan today.

 

Expert Insights and Solutions

 

Dr. Baolong Wang, Associate Professor at Tsinghua University and Chair of the IIR Working Group on Dehumidification, delivered a comprehensive presentation that explored:

• Innovative cooling architectures: He provided detailed insights into liquid cooling, air cooling, and hybrid systems that maximise energy efficiency while minimising environmental impact.
• Energy-saving strategies: Dr. Wang highlighted the potential of natural cooling technologies, AI-powered intelligent operation systems, and waste heat recovery as key components of sustainable data centre practices.
• Global perspective: He outlined a roadmap for achieving carbon neutrality in data centre operations, emphasising the integration of renewable energy and holistic system optimisation.
• Future-oriented insights: His recommendations targeted policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders, urging them to adopt forward-looking strategies that align with the rapid growth of the digital economy.

 

Country-Level Experiences

 

Dr. Pattanan Tarin, Head of Thailand’s Ozone Protection Unit, shared Thailand’s proactive strategies in managing emissions from its growing data centre sector. Her intervention underscored the importance of national policy frameworks aligned with Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment commitments.

 

Global Collaboration and Dialogue

 

A dynamic roundtable discussion followed, featuring insights from:

• Dr. Shazwin Binti (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia)
• Dr. Rajan Ranjendran (TEAP RTOC Co-Chair)
• Mr. Kennedy Amankwa (Ghana Energy Commission)
• Ms. Miruza Mohamed (CCAC Co-Lead, Maldives)

Panellists and audience members explored how the international community can collaborate to ensure compliance with the Kigali Amendment while accommodating the exponential growth of digital infrastructure.

 

 

Tools for the Future

 

Mr. Miquel Pitarch, International Consultant with UNEP U4E, concluded the session by presenting the U4E Procurement Guideline for Sustainable Data Centres and Computer Servers. This practical tool aims to guide governments and organisations in making environmentally responsible procurement decisions that reduce both energy use and refrigerant emissions.

 

Looking Ahead

 

The event concluded with a strong call to action: to integrate sustainable cooling technologies into the digital transformation agenda and in the Kigali Implementation Plan. As data centres continue to expand globally, the Montreal Protocol community and its partners must act swiftly to ensure that climate progress is not undermined by the digital age.