Air conditioning saves thousands of lives during extreme heat in the United States, with a study showing an average of about 5,267 lives saved per year from 2010 to 2020, but its reliance on fossil-fuel electricity increases carbon emissions and accelerates climate warming.

Global cooling demand is rising, with cooling-related electricity projected to triple and cooling degree days increasing across the US, Europe, India, and Southeast Asia.

Cooling energy already accounts for roughly 7% of global emissions (about 2.5 billion tons CO2e in 2022), and without efficiency gains it could approach 8 billion tons by 2050.

Even in hotter climates, adaptive measures such as passive cooling, urban greening, and efficient ventilation can reduce the need for extreme cooling, but in extreme conditions, cooling remains essential for health and dignity.

Empirical support is presented for AC’s societal value, arguing that restricting access to cooling would impede development and cooperation in climate mitigation efforts.

Decarbonization requires scalable zero-carbon energy and innovation to power widespread cooling, making AC and refrigeration pivotal in both rich and hot-poor regions.

Policy and practice emphasize smarter, more equitable cooling rather than simply more cooling, including energy-efficient technologies, better ventilation, passive cooling, and urban planning; Singapore is highlighted as a model for integrated cooling strategies.

Experts stress the need for smarter cooling strategies—improved building design, efficiency, urban planning, and targeted cooling access for vulnerable populations to avoid health-climate trade-offs.

There is a shift from merely increasing cooling to pursuing smarter, equitable cooling that reduces overuse and includes urban cooling, energy-efficient buildings, and nature-based solutions, exemplified by Singapore’s approach.

Urban heat islands and air pollution are worsened by waste heat from air conditioning and grid electricity use, with access to cooling uneven and vulnerable populations often unable to afford it.

Cooling is a fairness issue: many in poorer regions cannot afford sufficient cooling, making access a matter of health and dignity.

Key challenges include urban heat island effects, rising power demand straining grids, and inequality in cooling access, underscoring the need for affordable, equitable solutions.