The Clean Cooling Network (CCN) is a globally integrated programme to understand cooling and cold-chain as critical national infrastructure.
Our aim is to provide the tools, knowledge, training, and support to deliver inclusive, equitable, and future-proofed cooling and cold-chain solutions with minimum environmental and social impact.
The Clean Cooling Programme in action
We have set out to answer a wicked problem - How do you create the local and global “field to fork” connectivity to nutritiously feed 10 billion people in 2050, whilst economically empowering hundreds of millions of small-scale farmers whose livelihoods and well-being are often dependent on only 1-2 hectares of land or less, as well as ensure they are climate-change adaptation ready and resilient.… sustainably?
Many communities lack access to reliable, sustainable cooling. The consequences are far-reaching:
- Food spoils before it reaches markets
- Vaccines and medicines degrade in transit
- Extreme heat threatens lives and livelihoods
- Farmers lose income, and supply chains break down
Cooling isn’t a luxury; it’s infrastructure. And it’s missing from a range of national development strategies in the Global South.
By Degrees Magazine
Expert comment and analysis from the Clean Cooling Network, opening up the discussion around clean cooling, cold-chain, energy transition, policy-making, community engagement, climate change, and much more.
By Degrees discussions
By Degrees Magazine aims to promote, explore and stimulate debate around the role of cooling as critical infrastructure, ensuring societal well-being, economic stability, and public health; adapting and mitigating the impacts of extreme heat to climate change.
In a By Degrees article, A Cool World: Accelerating the journey to Sustainable Cold-Chain for the Global South, Dr Tim Fox explores the importance of clean cooling solutions, the barriers to progress and the roadmap to a cool world - also to be explored at our upcoming conference: Sustainable Cold-Chain for the Global South.
In another By Degrees article, Building Africa’s Resilience through Cold-Chain Training for Global Health, ACES’s One Health team, Jean Pierre Musabyimana, Hugor Shema and Ariane Mutabaruka discuss how the cold-chain is the silent backbone to global health, and how its failure can mean the difference between life and death. This is one of the plenary topics to be discussed at the Sustainable Cold-Chain for the Global South conference too.
Recently published
Lots of fun and some life-changing conversations – ACES Festival of Cooling
We are celebrating the role cooling plays in our lives, increasing the visibility of cold-chains to the public eye, inspiring Africa’s next generation to be part of the continent’s cooling transformation, and engaging farmers, innovators and entrepreneurs...
Clean Cooling Academy
Educational and professional development courses covering topics such as the cold-chain, refrigeration, and GESI, aimed at enhancing the skills of an individual or workforce.
Training at CCN
Educational and professional development courses for you and your workforce.
Delivered by experienced specialist practitioners.
Available to all.
Upcoming Academy courses
Essentials in Cold-chain systems
22nd October - 3rd November 2025 (Fully online - Self-paced) - New dates added
Cold-chain specifications and commissioning course
7th November 2025, ACES, Kigali, Rwanda
Essentials course on Phase Change Materials
17th to 28th November 2025, ACES, Kigali, Rwanda
1st to 12th December 2025 ACES, Kigali, Rwanda
Essentials in Brazing Techniques for Refrigeration Systems
24th to 28th November 2025 ACES, Kigali, Rwanda
1st to 5th December 2025 ACES, Kigali, Rwanda
8th to 12th December 2025 ACES, Kigali, Rwanda
Cold-chain for Global Health
24th November to 19th December 2025, ACES, Kigali, Rwanda
Our Vision
Reframing cooling as essential infrastructure for climate, health, and equity.
Cold-chains are complex - multi-dimensional, temperature-controlled networks that must maintain perishable and temperature-sensitive products at their optimum temperature and environment from the point of harvest to the destination. They include both static and mobile elements that must work seamlessly together, and which are a primary source of different energy demands.
The traditional private-sector-led business models necessarily focus on and prioritise the commercial financial returns, not the impact that could be achieved on the economy, environment, and communities within society as a whole. Clean Cooling Network includes all relevant stakeholders in many different ways, with one key aim, to develop the cold-chain as critical infrastructure.
Our communities
Discussion groups, available for all CCN members, that provide access to relevant cooling and cold-chain content and support.
CCN communities
Join The Clean Cooling Community of Practice for Mapping the food system - Towards efficient post-harvest management.
It explores the fresh produce supply chain, identifying the most critical loss points, and aims to develop strategic interventions to mitigate these inefficiencies.
The CoP is led by Dr. Carol Verheecke-Vaessen and Dr. Tobi Fadiji at Cranfield University.
Our other communities include:
+50°C Community of Practice
Join the Living in a +50°C World Community of Practice to discuss these important issues, attend events and contribute!
The Future of Cooling
The programme is already being rolled out in multiple markets in Africa (Senegal and Lesotho alongside Rwanda and Kenya) and India (Telangana and a Centre of Excellence in Haryana). Over the next three years, our global reach is planned to continue to grow, driven by our team of more than 80 researchers and experts and our industry leaders, international development agencies, and government partners.
Get involved
Whether you're shaping policy, building systems, or supporting communities, we invite you to explore our resources, connect with our partners, and help make clean cooling accessible to all.
Become a member
Join the network for free:
- Cooling and cold-chain resources
- Expert chats and debates
- Cooling news, events & webinars
- Support and much more
Annual Review 2024/25
A pivotal year for the Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain Solutions Programme. Our annual review is now available for members to download.
At ACES this week
The Festrival of Cooling has arrived! Running at the Rubirizi Campus from Tuesday 7th to Friday 10th October, Kigali, Rwanda - Exploring the growing importance of cooling and cold-chains in a fast-warming world.
#FestivalOfCooling
From Tuesday 7th to Friday 10th October
This is in part a science fair, part an art show, part an ideas’ marketplace, part a music festival, part a networking ground, while remaining wholly an immersive celebration of sustainable cooling.
We aim to merge formal learning with informal discovery and lots of hands-on experience throughout the week.
Come and join us at the Festival of Cooling to find out answers to a range of cooling questions you have always wondered about.
Visit the Festival
ACES Rubirizi Campus
290 KK 18 Avenue, Kigali, Rwanda
X: @ACES_Cooling
Instagram: aces_cooling
[email protected]
