The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has said that sustainable cooling has been added to the global agenda of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28).
According to UNEP, about 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by conventional cooling methods like air conditioning. If not adequately controlled, the energy requirements for space cooling would triple by 2050, along with the related emissions, further harming the environment.
The Executive Director of UNEP, Inger Andersen, said in a statement that the development of sustainable cooling systems would protect vulnerable communities from high heat.
In her words, “Expanding cooling will protect the most vulnerable communities from extreme heat, keep food fresh and vaccines safe, employees productive and digital economies viable.
Speaking further she said, “as cooling expands, we need to prevent cooling-related greenhouse gas emissions from adding fuel to the climate fire. I am therefore pleased that cooling has been put on the global agenda of the next UN climate change conference.”
Story was adapted from TheCable.