Global Cooling Watch 2025 Report
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: UNEP
Subject: Environment
Context: The UNEP launched the Global Cooling Watch 2025 report at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, warning that global cooling demand could triple by 2050 under a business-as-usual scenario, potentially doubling emissions and straining power systems.
About Global Cooling Watch 2025 Report:
• What it is? The Global Cooling Watch 2025 is UNEP’s second global assessment on the environmental, economic, and equity dimensions of cooling, providing the scientific foundation for the Global Cooling Pledge.
• The Global Cooling Watch 2025 is UNEP’s second global assessment on the environmental, economic, and equity dimensions of cooling, providing the scientific foundation for the Global Cooling Pledge.
• Published by: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at COP30 (2025).
• Aim: To analyse global cooling trends, project future emissions, and propose a “Sustainable Cooling Pathway” to achieve near-zero emissions while ensuring equitable access to cooling worldwide
Key Trends Identified:
• Rising Cooling Demand: Global cooling capacity is projected to rise 2.6 times (22 TW → 58 TW) by 2050, driven by rapid urbanization, income growth, and intensifying heatwaves, particularly in developing nations.
• Emission Surge: Without strong policy intervention, cooling-related GHG emissions may reach 10.5 billion tons of CO₂e by 2050, nearly double 2022 levels, threatening to offset gains from other climate actions.
• Developing Country Growth: Cooling demand in Article 5 countries (developing nations) is set to increase fourfold, highlighting a widening divide in energy use and infrastructure readiness between rich and poor economies.
• Energy Consumption: Global electricity use for cooling may rise from 5,000 TWh (2022) to 18,000 TWh (2050), straining power grids and escalating peak load demands, especially in tropical regions.
• Heat Inequality: Over 2 billion people in low-income households remain vulnerable to extreme heat exposure due to lack of access to affordable, efficient cooling technologies.
• Passive Cooling Potential: Integrating passive cooling design—like reflective roofing and urban greening—can lower indoor temperatures by up to 8°C and cut energy use by 15–55%, offering scalable climate adaptation.
• HFC Transition: Phasing down high-global-warming refrigerants (HFCs) and adopting low-GWP alternatives could eliminate up to 0.4°C of projected global warming this century.
• Global Cooling Pledge Progress: So far, 72 nations and 80 organizations have joined the Global Cooling Pledge, collectively aiming for a 68% emission reduction in the cooling sector by 2050.
Successes:
• Strengthened global collaboration through the Global Cooling Pledge, harmonizing standards and accelerating knowledge sharing among nations.
• Mainstreaming of passive cooling measures in building codes and urban policies, especially in Asia and Africa.
• Rapid technological progress in hybrid and low-energy cooling systems, improving energy efficiency by up to 50%.
• Enhanced private sector participation in manufacturing and financing sustainable cooling technologies.
• Emerging Tiered Access Frameworks are improving cooling equity and resilience for low-income and heat-vulnerable populations.
Limitations:
• Persistent inequality in cooling access, with millions in tropical developing regions still unprotected from lethal heat exposure.
• Insufficient adaptation finance, as current funding meets less than 20% of global cooling resilience needs.
• Policy fragmentation across sectors—energy, housing, and environment—hampers unified cooling governance.
• Delayed HFC phase-down and poor refrigerant disposal continue to drive high direct emissions.
• Dependence on fossil-based electricity undermines gains from efficiency and refrigerant transition efforts.
UNEP Recommendations:
• Adopt a Sustainable Cooling Pathway combining passive design, efficient appliances, and rapid clean energy integration.
• Accelerate refrigerant phase-down through Kigali Amendment implementation and enforce full lifecycle refrigerant recovery.
• Mobilize green finance via concessional lending, PPPs, and climate bonds to expand access to sustainable cooling.
• Mandate passive cooling standards in national building and urban planning regulations.
• Ensure equitable access by subsidizing efficient cooling for vulnerable communities and heat-stressed regions.
Conclusion:
The Global Cooling Watch 2025 underscores that unchecked cooling demand could derail global climate goals. A coordinated shift toward efficient, equitable, and low-emission cooling is essential. If implemented urgently, UNEP’s pathway could cut 97% of future emissions and secure a climate-safe, heat-resilient future.
Climate impacts are now lived experiences rather than distant projections in many middle-income countries. Examine this shift. Analyse how it is altering public willingness to adopt sustainable lifestyle changes.