Toby Peters

Cooling – the neglected critical infrastructure

We must recognise cooling is critical infrastructure vital to health, food security and economic well-being; ever more so in a fast-warming world.   

Cooling is a critical service for a well-functioning, well adapted, resilient and healthy society and economy, enabling access to the basic essentials of life, such as food and health, and providing the safe environments in which to live, work, learn and play.  We are seeing an unprecedented and fast-growing demand for cooling. How we respond will determine the environmental impact of cooling; whether it is equitable and inclusive, drives economic transformation, and how we build resilience to future shocks.   

About the speaker:

Toby Peters is Professor of Cold Economy at the University of Birmingham and Heriot-Watt University, and the Founder Director of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES) in Kigali, Rwanda. His research focuses on cooling and cold-chains as critical infrastructures and the practical solutions for a just transition of access to cooling for all who need it.  

Keynote