63 nations pledge to cut cooling emissions at COP28

The news: The US is among 63 nations to pledge to cut cooling-related emissions at the United Nations climate summit in Dubai. The Global Cooling Pledge aims to reduce power consumption from air conditioning and refrigeration for food and medicine.

The numbers: The signatory countries pledged to reduce their cooling emissions by at least 68% on 2022 levels by 2050. The UN said the pledge would allow an additional 3.5 billion people to benefit from refrigerators, air conditioners or passive cooling by 2050. It would also reduce electricity bills for users by $US1 trillion in 2050, and by $17 trillion cumulatively between 2022—2050.

The context: About 1.2 billion people who need cooling still lack access, according to the UN. Cooling installations are set to triple by mid-century, helped by rising temperatures, growing populations and rising incomes.

However more air conditioners and refrigeration mean more emissions. Global emissions are expected to reach between 4.4 billion and 6.1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050.