A green cooling project has been validated to participate in carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. This enables Botswana to unlock climate finance for emission reductions.
The Paris Agreement Article 6 carbon market offers opportunities for additional financing for mitigation action in developing countries. The Cooling Program for Southern Africa (CooPSA) supports partner countries in making use of these opportunities.
Image: creative republic for gizReducing emissions with R290 ACs
CooPSA has therefore developed a Mitigation Action Design Document (MADD) for a project in Botswana. It foresees the market introduction of R290 Split Air Conditioners (ACs) and the replacement of thousands of conventional, climate-damaging split ACs.
Each ‘Green AC’ can avoid up to 24,1t CO2eq in direct and indirect emissions. That corresponds to 7 return flights from South Africa to Germany!
These emission savings will be calculated and shall be turned into carbon credits and sold under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
Validation Process
The Mitigation Action Design Document had already been validated by government stakeholders. It now also received validation from an independent validator who is accredited as a Designated Operational Entity (DOE) by the UNFCCC and approved by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) of Switzerland for assessing Article 6 opportunities.
After having its Carbon Market Framework ready, Botswana will be able to use the cooling project to generate and sell Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs). High-emitting countries can buy them to offset some of their emissions. Botswana can use the proceeds for continued climate action.