Report published by the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Cool Coalition, details a Sustainable Cooling Pathway aimed at dramatically reducing projected GHG emissions from cooling by 2050.

Key concerns raised in the Report

• Surge in cooling demand: Under a Business-as-Usual (BAU) Cooling Pathway, the global stock of cooling equipment will more than triple by 2050, from 22 terawatts (TW) in 2022 to 68 TW.
• Policy Gaps: Only 54 nations meet full Sustainable Cooling Pathway standards despite broad policy inclusion.
• Escalating extreme heat: Global population exposed to deadly heat stress could rise from 30% today to between 48% and 76% by the end of the century. (IPCC)
  • This gets further amplified by urban heat island effect, heatwaves, etc.

Proposed Sustainable Cooling Pathway

• Passive Cooling: Reduce cooling loads through passive design, urban planning, and simple measures like doors on refrigerated cabinets to cut costs and emissions.
• Low-Energy Cooling: Prioritize low-energy systems such as fans and evaporative coolers instead of, or alongside, air conditioning to cut energy use and costs.
• Best Energy Efficiency: Adopt high-efficiency systems with variable-speed compressors and proper maintenance for optimal performance.
• Rapid HFC Phase-Down: Select low-GWP refrigerants that maintain system efficiency to reduce direct emissions and support sustainable cooling.