How air cooling technologies are making rising global temperature worse

Air conditioners and refrigerators use hydrofluorocarbons, which heat up the earth.

Did you know that refrigeration and cooling technologies, such as air conditioners, add over 1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2), the same amount as Japan--the fifth largest emitter in the world, produced in 2018. India has formulated an India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) for energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling technologies, but in two years since its launch, progress has been slow, according to experts.

With heat waves sweeping across India, India's cooling demand is expected to grow five to eight times by 2037-38, as compared to 2017-18 levels, with the most growth in the demand for cooling spaces,