16th EU Conference UNEP-REI at the University Politecnico of Milan and Expo 2015

2015 International Event at the Global Sustainability EXPO Energy Saving in Cooling Systems

The 16th EU Conference UNEP – REI will take place on the 12th – 13th June 2015  at the University Politecnico of Milan and EXPO 2015.

Countries are looking to Europe to provide guidance on sustainable cooling technologies which have the potential to improve living conditions worldwide. The European focus is centred on Milan, in particular the University Politecnico and EXPO2015 for the 16th EU Conference, which will discuss the latest innovations across the continent and aim to broaden knowledge sharing with the rest of the world. The 16th EU Conference – organised by UNEP, IIR, REI, CSG and ATF – will host the Presidents of Major Global Associations at the University Politecnico of Milan and EXPO2015 on the 12th – 13th June 2015. The Conference will present innovative environmentally-friendly initiatives to export European expertise and established best practices in cooling technologies worldwide. The sector has already won the battle to reduce the hole in the Ozone Layer, which was responsible for increased rates of skin cancer and cataracts, and is now at the forefront of the fight against climate change. To fulfil this objective, agencies of the United Nations, including FAO, UNEP and UNIDO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Environment Programme and United Nations Industrial Development Organization) have joined the Renewable Energy Institute – REI, Centro Studi Galileo – CSG and the Italian Association of Refrigeration Technicians – ATF, to run the 16th EU Conference within the Milan EXPO. The aim is to focus on the current revolution of cooling technologies on a technical level, in order to facilitate more efficient distribution of food in developing countries. Over the past few years, ATF – together with the REI and CSG– have been heavily involved in supporting developing countries to improve living conditions by advancing cooling technologies, systems and processes. This has been achieved through capacity building and by training technicians to install, maintain and design numerous projects with the United Nations in Africa and Asia (countries include Ethiopia, Rwanda, Ghana, Tunisia, Eritrea, Benin, Bahrain and Sri Lanka). Current major changes in refrigerant gases will involve the entire cooling sector, in the most significant “revolution” there has ever been in the industry. The sector must now therefore find innovative technological solutions to combat environmental issues, in order to benefit consumers and the wider society. Alongside these major global changes, the United Nations, FAO, REI and CSG will launch their objectives during the Milan EXPO2015, which has the theme of “Feeding the Planet: Energy for life”. It is important to highlight that in order to reach the target set by EXPO2015, cooling technologies – the main method of preserving and conserving food – must be a major focus, and more specifically these technologies must be sustainable in the long term. Therefore, at the XVI European Conference within the Milan-EXPO2015, discussions will centre on pioneering technologies which could transform the industry: for example the use of solar energy, heat pumps, energy optimisation of new technologies and magnetic refrigeration.