UNEP Global Cooling Watch 2025: Key Findings
Why in the news
UNEP released the second Global Cooling Watch at COP30 in Belem, Brazil. It reviews the environmental, economic and equity effects of cooling and underpins the Global Cooling Pledge.
Key facts
- Electricity for cooling may jump from 5,000 TWh (2022) to 18,000 TWh (2050), straining grids.
- Demand in Article 5 countries (developing nations) is expected to quadruple.
- Over 2 billion people in low-income households remain exposed to extreme heat.
- Phasing down high-GWP HFCs could remove up to 0.4°C of projected warming this century.
| Indicator | 2022 | 2050 (projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling capacity | 22 TW | 58 TW |
| Electricity use | 5,000 TWh | 18,000 TWh |
| Cooling emissions | Baseline (about half of 2050) | 10.5 billion tons CO2e |
Successes noted
- Wider cooperation via the Global Cooling Pledge.
- Passive cooling entering building codes, especially in Asia and Africa.
- Hybrid and low-energy systems improving efficiency by up to 50%.
- More private sector participation and tiered access frameworks.
Limitations
- Unequal access to cooling.
- Adaptation finance below 20% of needs.
- Fragmented policy across energy, housing and environment.
- Delayed HFC phase-down and poor refrigerant disposal; reliance on fossil electricity.
UNEP recommendations
- Adopt a Sustainable Cooling Pathway mixing passive design, efficient appliances and clean energy.
- Implement the Kigali Amendment fully, with refrigerant recovery.
- Mobilise green finance: concessional loans, PPPs, climate bonds.
- Mandate passive cooling in building codes and urban planning; subsidise cooling for vulnerable groups.
Exam angle
- Publisher: UNEP; venue: COP30, Belem.
- Related terms: Kigali Amendment, HFC, passive cooling, Global Cooling Pledge.
- Numbers: 2.6x demand, 68% emission cut goal.