That was the message from industry experts and academics at the Birmingham Energy Institute policy commission, on 30 June.
The commission was chaired by Lord Robin Teverson, principal spokesperson for transport and former member of the European Parliament. He heard from expert witnesses about new technologies and innovation to address the problem, much of it caused by the boom in refrigerated transport.
Evidence was received from Tesco, as well as SMEs and start-ups pioneering new technologies to provide sustainable cooling in the food, retail and data cooling sectors, along with the Institute of Refrigeration.
Professor Martin Freer, director of the Birmingham Energy Institute and academic lead for the commission, said: "It became clear from this session that the UK has enormous talent and expertise in energy solutions manufacturing and technology innovation but it is being stifled.
"We can achieve the country's ambitious carbon reduction targets but only if we invest in these sustainable innovations – the government must take cold seriously instead of focusing solely on heating."
Robert Hurley, Tesco's group engineering and energy standards manager, told the commission of the supermarket chain's aim to become a zero carbon business by 2050. "Supermarkets must take sustainable cooling solutions seriously. We will best achieve our stretching aspiration if we work with the supply base and procure not only by capital cost but also lifecycle, and sustainable alternatives that could provide both economic and environmental savings in the long term."
Hubbard Products' managing director Pat Maughan told the commission that its technology could reduce leakage from refrigeration to less than 5%, from its current 20%. He added that "realistic" engineering solutions are available to eliminate leakage completely and called for clear direction from government on future carbon reduction priorities to help drive the market.
The commission will continue to hear from expert witnesses over the next month and will provide recommendations as part of its final report in the autumn.