Trane Technologies and Shell Foundation partner to scale up cooling solutions for Indian workers, enhancing livelihoods and climate adaptation

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Bengaluru, India – 23 April 2026: Trane Technologies, a global climate innovator, has announced significant progress in advancing sustainable cooling solutions. In partnership with the Shell Foundation—an independent charity supporting underserved communities in Africa and Asia to increase incomes while reducing emissions—the company has deployed two cooling solutions, to be scaled up across India to support the most vulnerable communities in coping with extreme heat. The efforts aim to enhance heat safety, improve livelihoods and alleviate the climate and economic impact of perishable loss.

Building on a strong foundation of partnership and innovation, Trane Technologies and the Shell Foundation joined forces in 2024. United by a shared commitment to reducing carbon emissions and uplifting economically disadvantaged communities, the partnership is deploying accessible, purpose-driven cooling technologies where they are needed most.

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At Trane Technologies, we believe cooling is essential to human wellbeing, especially as rising temperatures put vulnerable communities at risk. By deploying scalable cooling innovations directly in local markets, we are helping workers stay safer, farmers reduce losses, and micro-entrepreneurs secure more stable incomes, building a more resilient and sustainable future.

Dr. Zubin Varghese

Senior Director Innovation and Center of Excellence, Trane Technologies India

In line with Trane Technologies’ 2030 Sustainability Commitments, the company introduced its passive Cooling Canopy for street vending carts prototype in 2022. This innovative solution is designed to protect food from excessive heat while helping street vendors reduce food waste and improve livelihoods. Building on pilot successes where Cooling Carts were distributed free of cost across Karnataka and Maharashtra, the company is scaling up this solution further. Currently, 100 Cooling Carts are being deployed across India, with many already in active operation, supporting vendors of fruit, vegetables, and other perishables in key market areas.

Complementing the deployment of Cooling Carts, Trane Technologies is expanding its support to India’s informal workforce by focusing on heat resilience and health protection for those working outdoors in severe conditions. To-date, 12,000 Cooling Vests have been prepared, with 7,000 allocated for India, and large-scale trials underway among construction workers, delivery personnel and other occupations exposed to high temperatures. Notably, the Cooling Vest initiative recently received the Vanguard Award–an initiative celebrating intrapreneurial excellence–in recognition of its innovative contribution to protecting worker health and productivity in challenging climates.

Building on these successful initiatives in India, Trane Technologies is extending the reach of its Cooling Canopies and Cooling Vests to Africa, specifically to Nigeria and Ghana, further advancing its commitment to improving heat resilience, protecting livelihoods and supporting vulnerable outdoor workers across global communities.

In addition to these ongoing projects, Trane Technologies remains dedicated to agricultural resilience. Pilots are currently underway with onion-growing communities to address post-harvest losses caused by oversupply and insufficient cooling capacity. Encouraged by positive initial results, Trane Technologies and its partners are planning to expand these efforts further in 2026, aiming to deliver benefits to even more communities worldwide.

Trane Technologies’ technical expertise in HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) and cooling, coupled with comprehensive supply chain support, has been crucial to the integral success of these programmes. The company delivers end-to-end solutions, from sourcing and distribution of specialised radiative films to training local manufacturers and installers. By partnering with local vendors for production and implementation, Trane Technologies ensures both scalability and a community-centric approach for lasting impact.

With these inclusive cooling initiatives, Trane Technologies is driving scalable solutions for climate resilience, economic growth, and long-term wellbeing across India. The company continues its commitment to empowering vulnerable communities, supporting a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

About this partnership, Jonathan Berman, CEO of the Shell Foundation said:

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As extreme heat becomes more frequent, millions of micro-entrepreneurs and informal workers without access to cooling solutions risk losing income. Through our partnership with Trane Technologies, we are deploying innovative, climate-smart solutions to protect the livelihoods and health of the communities we support. This collaboration demonstrates that economic progress and climate action can go hand in hand.

About Trane Technologies

Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator. Through its strategic brands Trane® and Thermo King®, and itsr portfolio of environmentally responsible products and services, it brings efficient and sustainable climate solutions to buildings, homes and transportation.

About Shell Foundation

For 25 years, Shell Foundation, an independent charity registered in England and Wales, has empowered underserved customers to raise their incomes while lowering emissions. The Foundation supports early-stage innovations; helps the best of them to reach millions of people; and de-risks capital to prove those models are commercial at scale. Across Asia and Africa, the Foundation enables resilient prosperity among three core groups of people: smallholder farmers, transporters, and micro-entrepreneurs.