As the world warms, more ACs are sold, heating up the globe further

Sub: Env

Sec: climate change

Context:

A recent analysis by the International Energy Agency (IEA) reveals that the average consumer in India, like those in Australia, the U.S., China, Japan, and Europe, tends to buy the least efficient air conditioner (AC) available in the market.
Although the range of efficiency in AC units is narrower in India compared to other countries, consumers globally purchase units that are about half as efficient as the best available options.

Barriers to Efficiency:

Cost Factor: The main deterrent to purchasing efficient AC units is their higher upfront cost.
In India, a 3-star rated AC unit costs approximately ₹29,000, whereas a 5-star unit costs around ₹36,000, influencing consumers to opt for less efficient models despite their long-term cost-effectiveness.

Growing Demand and Environmental Impact:

The number of AC units globally is expected to triple by 2050, rising from two billion in 2022 to over 5.5 billion.
- China and India will account for more than 45% of the global AC units by 2050.
Rising global temperatures and increased incomes in hot countries drive higher AC demand. In regions like India and Indonesia, AC becomes a priority for those who can afford it.
In 2022, “space cooling” used about 2,100 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, constituting roughly 7% of the global electricity consumption of 29,000 TWh.
AC usage resulted in approximately one billion tonnes of CO₂ emissions in 2022, which is about 2.7% of total CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and industry.
- When considering the greenhouse gases from refrigerants, the emissions from ACs increase to 3.2% of all greenhouse gas emissions in 2022.

Mitigating Extreme Heat:

Despite the environmental concerns, air conditioning significantly improves living conditions during heat waves.
According to the 2021 Lancet Countdown report, AC usage helped prevent nearly 200,000 premature deaths in 2019 by making extreme heat more bearable.