UN Warns Global Air Conditioning Demand Could Triple by 2050
AFP, Geneva, 11th - The United Nations warned today that global air conditioning demand could be more than three times the current level by 2050, and called for more sustainable cooling solutions.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said that with the increasing population and wealth around the world, as well as a rise in extreme heat events, air conditioning demand could increase significantly.
UNEP stated that if demand for high-polluting and inefficient cooling systems continues to grow, "greenhouse gas emissions related to cooling will almost double compared to 2022 levels."
UNEP released the "2025 Global Cooling Outlook" during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Amazonas, Brazil.
The report said: "The installed cooling capacity is on track to triple by 2050, yet there will still be billions of people lacking sufficient protection against the heat. We must rethink cooling, not as a source of emissions, but as a foundation for enhancing heat resilience and achieving sustainable development."
The report predicts that the fastest growth in cooling demand will be in Africa and South Asia.
Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, said in a statement: "As deadly heatwaves become more frequent and extreme, cooling should be seen as an essential infrastructure, along with water, energy, and sanitation."
"But we cannot rely solely on air conditioning to solve the heat crisis, otherwise it will only lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions and higher costs."
UNEP emphasized various options known as "passive cooling," including better wall and roof designs, shading facilities, solar off-grid solutions, and ventilation design.
Passive cooling strategies can affect indoor temperatures by between 0.5 degrees Celsius and 8 degrees Celsius.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1848587741019209/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author(s) only.