"Demand for AC is rocketing as heat waves intensify, but it also contributes to global warming."
"LONDON - As temperatures soar around much of the world, people are cranking up the air conditioning, but blasting icy air into buildings fuels global warming, which increases demand for more cooling, creating a vicious circle.
Climate change, rapid urbanisation, rising incomes and population growth are driving huge demand for air conditioners (AC) globally, but particularly in developing countries.
Access to cooling is crucial for health, reduces heat-related deaths, helps children study in school and boosts workers' productivity.
But air conditioning's high energy consumption and impact on the climate is often overlooked."
Emma Batha reports for the Thomson Reuters Foundation July 28, 2025.
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