This inventory provides an update to the first refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) inventory for Grenada conducted in 2020. With the information generated, Grenada continues to maintain a solid estimate of RAC sector emissions, providing a reliable basis for planning and implementing mitigation measures in the RAC sector as part of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
What impact does the RAC sector have on emissions?
In recent years, Grenada’s refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) sector has experienced significant growth. The increasing demand for air conditioning and refrigeration is driven by steady economic development, moderate population growth, and rising temperatures linked to climate change. However, the use of conventional cooling equipment also leads to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
In total, the RAC sector was responsible for 167 kt CO₂eq of GHG emissions from refrigerant leakage and energy consumption in 2025, an increase from 122 kt CO₂eq in 2015. The sector accounts for approximately 29% of Grenada’s total GHG emissions, which amounted to 406.6 kt CO₂eq in 2014, the latest year for which comprehensive national emissions data are available. Due to the continued expansion of air conditioning and refrigeration use, annual emissions from Grenada’s RAC sector are expected to increase further, reaching 241 kt CO₂eq by 2050.
How can GHG emissions be reduced?
The updated GHG inventory shows that the RAC sector holds significant mitigation potential. Emission reductions can be achieved through a holistic approach combining market incentives, capacity building, regulatory measures, and awareness-raising related to energy efficiency and refrigerant management.
A particularly large mitigation potential lies in accelerating the transition from highly climate-damaging hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to alternatives with low global warming potential (GWP).
Through the implementation of these measures, 12 kt CO₂eq, or approximately 3.1% of Grenada’s targeted national emission reductions by 2030, could be avoided compared to the Business-as-Usual (BAU) scenario. The total accumulated mitigation potential up to 2050 is estimated at 1.19 Mt CO₂eq
The document was commissioned by the Government of Grenada and was created through the support of the Cool Contributions fighting Climate Change II project. The expertise and collaboration of Grenada's National Ozone Unit (NOU) at the Ministry of Climate Resilience, the Environment and Renewable Energy were indispensable for the realization of this report.
The project Cool Contributions fighting Climate Change C4 II was implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) as part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI).
