Thursday, June 26 was World Refrigeration Day. It’s not a major holiday, but it is a great reason to bring awareness and continue the conversation around safe and sustainable temperature-controlled supply chains. This year’s theme, “Cool Skills,” shines a light on the broad array of competencies essential to modern cooling. From refrigeration system design and low‑carbon technology to data analytics and regulatory compliance.
President & CEO of The Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA), Sara Stickler, said in an American Journal of Transportation article, “Over the coming decades we can expect global food supply chain resilience to become increasingly dependent on temperature-controlled logistics, particularly as populations face disruptions as a result of geopolitical uncertainties, fast changing populations, and changing weather patterns. Skill areas such as data analysis, automation management, energy efficiency, and the development and operation of AI-driven systems will be increasingly important to the cold chain of the future.”
Various professional bodies and organizations are stepping up, such as the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air‑Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), part of the global “Cool Skills” initiative, which advocates for education and certification programs covering refrigerant management, energy efficiency, and cutting‑edge building systems like low‑carbon heat pumps.
Through its partnership with the UN Environmental Programme’s OzonAction team, ASHRAE is offering free tools like sustainability checklists for plant managers and technicians, helping to benchmark plant performance and ensure regulatory alignment.
Although initiatives are often led by U.S. and European bodies, their impact is felt worldwide, aligning with GCCA programs like the Cold Chain Institute to upskill professionals across regions.
World Refrigeration Day 2025’s “Cool Skills” campaign signals a new era where skilled professionals are the linchpin of a clean, efficient, resilient cold chain, safeguarding food safety and enabling global trade.
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