The Acting Chief Executive of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Professor Nana Ama Klutse , has disclosed that the split air conditioner (AC) sub-sector alone accounts for about 80% of Ghana’s greenhouse gas emissions.

According to her, these emissions stem from the leakage of high global warming potential refrigerants and the high electricity consumption associated with conventional AC units.

Speaking at the launch of the Ghana Green Cooling Project on Monday, August 18, 2025, in partnership with GIZ, Professor Klutse described the air conditioning sector as a major driver of Ghana’s greenhouse gas emissions, calling for an urgent shift to low-carbon cooling technologies.

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“The air conditioning sector is a substantial contributor to Ghana's current and future greenhouse gas emissions, primarily through the leakage of high global warming potential refrigerants and the considerable electricity consumption of these units. Indeed, the split AC sub-sector alone accounts for approximately 80% of our national greenhouse gas emissions. This is precisely why the Ghana Green Cooling Project is not just timely but absolutely critical,” she stated.

She added that the agency is on course to transition Ghana's air conditioning sector toward low-carbon cooling, helping to reduce emissions and prevent harmful environmental impacts.

“We aim to achieve this by accelerating the adoption of highly energy-efficient and climate-friendly green split ACs that utilize ultra-low global warming potential natural refrigerants, especially R-219. This transition presents a monumental opportunity to significantly reduce our emissions and prevent the lock-in of harmful environmental impacts for decades to come,” she added.

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Ghana targets low-carbon transition in cooling sector

The Sustainable Energy and Cluster Coordinator at GIZ, Gunnar Wegner, also noted that Ghana's refrigeration and air conditioning sector contributes both directly and indirectly to the country’s emissions.

He explained that this has prompted the need for a shift in Ghana's approach to accelerating carbon reduction. He further announced that the project aims to oversee the installation of 150,000 green split ACs by 2030 to help cut greenhouse gas emissions.

“The programme will hopefully lead to the installation of 150,000 green split ACs by 2030, which would result in significant direct and indirect emission reductions. We are still awaiting final project authorisation from the governments of Switzerland and Ghana, and we would like to thank the Click Foundation for enabling us to incentivize 5,000 ACs in Ghana prior to receiving final project approval,” he said.





SP/MA

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