A United Nations report released on Wednesday suggests that unless sustainable solutions are given priority, the surge in demand for cooling systems in emerging nations could exacerbate climate change.
According to the UN Environment Agency (UNEP) and the World Bank’s private sector arm IFC, demand for air conditioning, freezers, and refrigerated transportation would increase seven-fold in Africa and four-fold in Asia by the year 2050.
“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.
The need for cooling equipment is growing as a result of rising temperatures, growing populations, and urbanization in many developing nations.
According to the paper, the cooling sector currently consumes 5% of global electricity, and by 2050, demand is expected to treble, with the emerging world supplying 80% of the energy needed.
The effects of climate change must be balanced with the necessity of refrigeration to prevent the deterioration of essential commodities like crops and vaccinations.
“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 UNEP, 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.
UNEP 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.
They also highlighted the importance of developing so-called “passive” solutions, such as reflective materials or planting trees to provide shade.
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