Fair Cooling Fund
Around the world, life without cooling puts one billion people in danger
Sickening, dizzying heat rots their food and spoils their medicines. It strikes in fields and factories, homes and hospitals. And as global temperatures climb, so the threat grows. The worst off are most at risk.
The answer is fair cooling – affordable, accessible cooling solutions that do not worsen the climate crisis. Around the globe innovators are developing solar-powered refrigeration, using trees and streams to lower temperatures in crowded cities, and making better use of cool materials and ventilation when designing buildings.
Alternatives such as air conditioning are out of reach for many, and create emissions that fuel the climate emergency. Fair cooling is the future – but it isn’t spreading fast enough. That’s why Ashden, K-CEP and ClimateWorks Foundation have launched the $1 million Fair Cooling Fund, an ambitious project scaling up the impact of frontline fair cooling solutions. See the innovators we’re supporting.
Fair cooling is crucial because already marginalised communities, those who have done least to contribute to global heating, are most in danger. They are living in the hottest countries, often without access to energy, healthcare, or high-quality buildings. There’s an urgent need for solutions tailored to the challenges these groups face.
How does the fund work?
The Fair Cooling Fund is helping eight organisations scale up their fair cooling innovation or deliver fair cooling for the first time. Organisations will receive a grant, tailored business support and global networking opportunities.
Those taking part include businesses, social enterprises and city authorities. All are committed to working closely with the vulnerable communities most at risk from heat stress. At the heart of the project is a co-operative, collaborative approach – innovators are learning from each other and inspire change beyond their own organisation.
As well as supporting fair cooling pioneers, the fund is raising the profile of cooling issues with policymakers, investors and other crucial audiences. A challenge this huge demands local, national and international action.
For more information about the fund, contact FairCoolingFund@Ashden.org.
