The restart brings relief after load shedding reached 3,100MW and demand remained above BPDB’s current generation of 13,000MW to 14,000MW.
Highlights:
1.Global AC numbers could rise from 1.6 billion to 5.6 billion by 2050.
2. By 2050, the equivalent of nearly 10 new AC units could be sold every second.
3. Electricity demand for cooling could more than triple by 2050.
4.Cooling emissions could rise from 4.1 to 7.2 gigatonnes.
5. HFC refrigerants are adding to climate risks.
As global temperatures rise, air conditioning use is increasing across the world. But could the technology designed to keep people cool actually be making the planet hotter? Rising electricity demand, fossil fuel-based power generation and the release of powerful greenhouse gases have made air conditioning an increasingly complex part of the climate crisis. As global temperatures continue to rise, air conditioning is no longer simply a luxury. In many areas, it has become crucial for health and even survival. However, this growing dependence on air conditioning comes at an increasing environmental cost.
According to projections by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the number of air conditioners worldwide could increase from around 1.6 billion today to approximately 5.6 billion by 2050.
In other words, over the coming decades, the growth in demand would be equivalent to nearly 10 new AC units being sold every second.
The IEA warns that without rapid improvements in efficient and sustainable technologies, electricity demand for space cooling in buildings could more than triple by 2050. In many countries, a significant share of this additional electricity is still generated from fossil fuels. As more air conditioners are used, more electricity will be required, potentially driving up carbon emissions.
An energy expert said, “The demand for cooling will continue to grow in the future. The major challenge now is how to meet this additional electricity demand with lower carbon emissions.”
The environmental impact of air conditioning is not limited to electricity consumption. Refrigerants used in air conditioners can become powerful greenhouse gases if they leak into the environment. Some hydrofluorocarbons, in particular, have the ability to trap significantly more heat than carbon dioxide.
According to the recent analysis by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), cooling-related greenhouse gas emissions stood at approximately 4.1 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2022. If current trends continue, emissions could rise to around 7.2 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2050.
This creates a climate cycle:
A hotter planet → greater demand for AC → higher electricity use → increased greenhouse gas emissions → a hotter planet → even greater demand for AC.
Experts describe this situation as a “cooling paradox”. On the one hand, cooling systems are increasingly important for protecting people from severe heat. On the other, inefficient and poorly planned cooling can further accelerate climate change.
A regular AC user said that during extreme heat, it is sometimes difficult to manage without air conditioning. Despite the higher electricity bills, it has become necessary for relief from intense heat.
Solutions, however, do exist. According to UNEP, wider adoption of energy-efficient cooling technologies, climate-friendly refrigerants, improved building design and renewable energy could significantly reduce future cooling-related emissions.
While air conditioner use continues to grow amid rising heat, concerns about its environmental impact are also increasing. Manufacturers say newer generations of inverter and energy-efficient technologies consume comparatively less electricity, while the industry is also moving toward more environmentally friendly refrigerants.
According to experts, the question is no longer simply whether people should use air conditioners. The larger challenge is how to create cooling systems that protect people from extreme heat without making the planet even hotter.
An environmentalist said, “Stopping the use of air conditioning altogether is not a realistic solution. Instead, its environmental impact must be reduced through energy-efficient technology, climate-friendly refrigerants, urban greening and heat-resilient building design.”
In an era of intensifying heatwaves, air conditioning may represent relief and survival, but if that relief comes at the cost of a warmer planet, the way the world keeps cool may need to be considered.
