Sustainable cooling can slash emissions, save trillions of dollars, says UN report
Belem, Nov 11 () – The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) warned that the world’s growing need for cooling could drive a dramatic rise in greenhouse‑gas emissions, but it also offers a roadmap to keep temperatures down.
Global Cooling Watch 2025 launched at COP‑30 in Belem, Brazil, projects that by 2050 cooling demand could more than triple if we stay on the current business‑as‑usual path. That surge follows a rise in population, rising incomes, more extreme heat events and poorer households gaining access to polluting, inefficient air‑conditioning. The study estimates cooling‑related emissions could hit 7.2 billion tonnes of CO₂‑eq, almost doubling the level seen in 2022.
UNEP’s new “Sustainable Cooling Pathway” cuts those numbers by 64 %, lowering emissions to 2.6 billion tonnes of CO₂‑eq by 2050. If power grids worldwide decarbonise fast enough, residual cooling emissions could fall 97 % below the business‑as‑usual level.
“Deadly heat waves are becoming the new norm. Cooling must be seen as essential infrastructure, right next to water and sanitation,” said Inger Andersen, UNEP’s Executive Director. “We can’t rely solely on more air‑conditioning. Passive, energy‑efficient, nature‑based solutions keep people, food‑chains and economies safe while we’re fighting climate change.”
The pathway bundles three key strategies:
- Passive cooling – design buildings and cities to stay cool naturally, using shade, ventilation, and materials that reflect heat.
- Low‑energy and hybrid cooling – combine fans with small‑capacity air‑conditioners that run only when temperature spikes.
- Rapid tech upgrades – phase out the most polluting hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants under the Kigali Amendment and roll out high‑efficiency cooling units.
Nearly 70 % of the emissions cuts come from passive and low‑energy solutions, showing how crucial design changes are. These measures also deliver huge economic benefits: the pathway could save $17 trillion in cumulative energy costs and avoid $26 trillion in grid investment by 2050.
The report stresses that the gains apply to everyone, especially low‑income groups, small‑holder farmers, women and the elderly who will benefit from fair access to cooling, resilient buildings and greener urban spaces.
UNEP and the Cool Coalition urge governments, urban planners and property developers to embed these cooling solutions into national policies and city plans. If adopted, the Sustainable Cooling Pathway could make cooling affordable, climate‑friendly and universally available well before 2050.
Source: ianslive
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