Air conditioners are our best bet in the fight against extreme heat – whether we like it or not
Summary
As the planet warms due to climate change, millions of people will need air conditioning (AC) to stay safe and healthy. The use of AC is expected to rise sharply, especially in hot, poorer countries, but this will increase energy use and carbon emissions unless new energy-saving methods are implemented.Key Facts
- If the Earth warms more than 3°C above past averages, many big cities will face long heatwaves each year.
- Currently, about 90% of households in the US and Japan have AC, but only 5-9% in countries like India and Indonesia do.
- The number of air conditioners worldwide in buildings is expected to grow from 2.5 billion today to 5.6 billion by 2050.
- India’s AC units alone could increase from 48 million in 2020 to 1.1 billion by 2050.
- Cooling demand might use up to 75% of current electricity in countries like India and Indonesia by 2050.
- In 2022, cooling energy produced about 7% of global carbon emissions; this could rise to nearly 8 billion tons by 2050 without improvements.
- Air conditioning reduces heat-related deaths and helps keep workers productive and students focused during hot weather.
- Many people prefer to avoid AC due to environmental concerns, but access to cooling is critical to health and economic growth as temperatures rise.
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