UN report: Urgent need for climate-friendly aircon

UN report: Urgent need for climate-friendly aircon

/ 12:02 PM September 26, 2024

UN report: Urgent need for climate-friendly aircon

The United Nations Security Council holds a meeting on the theme of “Leadership for Peace” at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on September 25, 2024. – A UN report said an explosion in demand for cooling systems such as aircon in developing countries could worsen climate change. (Photo by Leonardo Munoz / Agence France-Presse)

NAIROBI, Kenya — An explosion in demand for cooling systems in developing countries could worsen climate change unless sustainable solutions are prioritized, according to a United Nations report published Wednesday.

By 2050, demand for air conditioning, refrigerators, and refrigerated transport will increase seven-fold in Africa and four-fold in Asia, according to the UN Environment Programme and the World Bank’s private sector arm IFC.

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“These nations are especially vulnerable to the deadly effects of rising temperatures and are urgently in need of cooling solutions,” said IFC head Makhtar Diop in a statement.

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Rising temperatures as well as increasing populations and urbanization in many developing countries are boosting demand for cooling devices.

The cooling sector already sucks up a fifth of the world’s electricity and demand is on track to triple by 2050, with the developing world accounting for 80 percent of total demand, the report said.

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READ: Cool plan: Better aircon can slow global warming, study says

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A balance is needed between the impact on climate change and the vital need for refrigeration to keep vital goods such as crops and vaccines from spoiling.

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“As record temperatures continue to be broken across the world, keeping cool is an essential need for both healthy communities and a healthy environment,” said Inger Andersen, executive director of UN Environment Programme, which is based in Nairobi.

“However, we must avoid creating a vicious cycle of meeting cooling demands through solutions that further heat up the planet,” she added.

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READ: Climate change is fueling rise in hot nights – analysis

UN Environment Programme and IFC, united in a “Cool Coalition” of 130 partners, stressed the need to develop sustainable and energy-efficient solutions that can halve related emissions and reduce electricity bills.

They called for the private sector to invest in a market that is expected to double to $600 billion a year by 2050 in developing countries.

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They also highlighted the importance of developing so-called “passive” solutions, such as reflective materials or planting trees to provide shade.

TAGS: air conditioning, cooling system, Top Stories Home

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