Kathmandu: As global temperatures soar and heatwaves intensify, a new UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report warns that cooling demand is set to triple by 2050, potentially driving climate change further and straining power systems worldwide. However, adopting sustainable cooling strategies could slash emissions, save trillions of dollars, and protect billions of people from extreme heat.
Launched at the COP30 Climate Conference in Belém, Brazil, the Global Cooling Watch 2025 report outlines a “Sustainable Cooling Pathway” that could reduce emissions by 64 percent by 2050, equivalent to 2.6 billion tons of CO₂e, compared to current projections. When coupled with rapid decarbonization of the power sector, the report says cooling emissions could be cut by up to 97 percent below business-as-usual levels.
Under current trends, cooling demand is projected to more than triple by 2050, driven by population growth, economic development, and more frequent heat extremes. Without decisive action, emissions from cooling could nearly double over 2022 levels, reaching 7.2 billion tons of CO₂e and overwhelming power grids during peak demand.
“As deadly heat waves become more regular and extreme, access to cooling must be treated as essential infrastructure alongside water, energy and sanitation,” said Inger Andersen, UNEP Executive Director. “But we cannot air-condition our way out of the heat crisis. Passive, energy-efficient, and nature-based solutions can meet our growing cooling needs while keeping people, food systems, and economies safe.”
The Sustainable Cooling Pathway
The UNEP-led Cool Coalition describes the Sustainable Cooling Pathway as the most comprehensive roadmap to date for addressing global cooling demand. It promotes passive cooling strategies, low-energy and hybrid systems, and rapid deployment of high-efficiency equipment, along with the phase-down of HFC refrigerants under the Kigali Amendment.
Nearly two-thirds of potential emission reductions come from passive and low-energy solutions — such as better building design, shading, and urban greening — which are also affordable and accessible for low-income populations. The report estimates these measures could deliver cooling access to three billion more people by 2050, while saving US$17 trillion in cumulative energy costs and avoiding US$26 trillion in power grid investments.
Global Drive to “Beat the Heat”
To accelerate progress, UNEP and the COP30 Presidency launched the Mutirão Contra o Calor Extremo / Beat the Heat initiative, a global collaboration to localize the Global Cooling Pledge and bridge policy, finance, and implementation gaps.
So far, 185 cities, from Rio de Janeiro to Jakarta and Nairobi, have joined the initiative, alongside 83 partner organizations and 72 Global Cooling Pledge signatories.
“Beat the Heat is one of those initiatives that shows that people must come together and act on what they understand,” said Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, COP30 President-Designate. “It brings people together to make the effort we need to combat climate change.”
Growing but Uneven Progress
According to the report, 72 nations have joined the Global Cooling Pledge, committing to cut cooling-related emissions by 68 percent by 2050. So far, 29 countries have set specific cooling-sector emission reduction targets, with five more developing such targets.
In total, 134 countries have incorporated cooling measures into their national climate strategies, including NDCs, NAPs, or energy plans. However, progress remains uneven: only 54 countries have comprehensive policies addressing all three priority areas, passive cooling, energy performance standards, and refrigerant transition.
The largest gaps are in Africa and the Asia-Pacific, regions where cooling demand is expected to rise most sharply. The report urges governments to shift from reactive responses to proactive governance, treating heat resilience as a public good and integrating nature-based solutions into urban planning.
