Background and Relevance
As global warming intensifies worldwide, the need for cooling or climate control in spaces is increasing. This has led to a surge in the global demand for mechanical or technological cooling devices, which in turn increases energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in highly urbanized areas. According to the Global Cooling Watch Report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), presented at COP30, if no significant changes are made to global parameters, the use of artificial cooling systems worldwide is expected to triple by 2050.
The Impact of Cooling Systems
This projected increase in artificial cooling systems will result in an annual emission of 7,200 million tonnes of CO2, considering efforts to reduce the impact of inefficient devices. Simultaneously, the escalating effects of global warming will severely affect millions of people without adequate heat protection.
Call for Policy Reform
The Global Cooling Watch Report aims to not only provide quantitative information but also propose concrete global action plans to ensure sustainable access to cooling systems and minimize the impact of outdated or counterproductive technologies.
“We must rethink cooling not as a source of emissions, but as a cornerstone of heat resilience and sustainable development. During heatwaves, access to cooling can be the difference between life and death. Year-round, it enables thriving communities, food security, continuous learning, and livable cities. Sustainable and accessible cooling—from passive design to energy-efficient systems—should be considered essential infrastructure,” states the report signed by Winston Chow, co-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and Martin Krause, PNUMA’s climate change director.
Current Scenario and Future Projections
The report details that in 2022, cooling and air conditioning equipment alone emitted 4,100 million tonnes of CO2. One-third of this figure was due to refrigerant leaks, while two-thirds were attributed to energy consumption. By 2050, cooling-related emissions could reach 7,200 million tonnes of CO2 annually, nearly doubling the climatic impact of these devices in just three decades.
What Needs to Be Done?
To address this, initiatives promoting the development of hybrid cooling methods and low-electricity, high-efficiency devices should be encouraged. Governments, private sectors globally, and individuals need to avoid purchasing or selling devices containing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), one of the most widely used substances today.
Introduced in the late 1980s following the Montreal Protocol, HFCs were seen as a clean alternative with minimal climatic impact. However, its widespread use in cooling devices has turned it into a cause for concern.
The report suggests reducing obsolete cooling device stock by 40% by mid-century, which would lower annual CO2 emissions to 2,600 million tonnes—a 64% decrease from the rising scenario.
Current Global Status
UN analysis of 192 countries revealed that 29 nations have implemented measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cooling devices, five are developing such policies, and 134 have long-term strategies incorporating these considerations.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the issue? The escalating global warming intensifies the need for cooling systems, leading to increased energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
- What does the report propose? The Global Cooling Watch Report suggests rethinking cooling systems as a cornerstone of heat resilience and sustainable development, promoting hybrid cooling methods and low-electricity, high-efficiency devices.
- What are the current emissions? In 2022, cooling and air conditioning equipment emitted 4,100 million tonnes of CO2. By 2050, this could rise to 7,200 million tonnes annually.
- What actions are being taken? 29 countries have implemented measures to reduce cooling device emissions, five are developing such policies, and 134 have long-term strategies addressing this issue.
- What is the ideal scenario? The report suggests reducing obsolete cooling device stock by 40% by mid-century, lowering annual CO2 emissions to 2,600 million tonnes—a 64% decrease from the rising scenario.
