The increase in heat waves due to extreme temperatures and the growing demand for cooling have made sustainable cooling one of the central themes of the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), taking place in this Amazonian city.

UNEP research warns that global cooling demand could triple by 2050 if urgent efficiency and sustainability measures are not implemented.

During the ministerial session “Meeting the Global Cooling Commitment,” UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen stated that access to cooling should be considered essential infrastructure, alongside water, energy, and sanitation.

The initiative presented by the organization proposes a set of technological, urban planning, and social solutions to reduce emissions linked to cooling and prevent air conditioning from becoming a new driver of climate change.

Among the main measures are the promotion of passive, low-consumption solutions—such as natural ventilation, white roofs, vegetation, and reflective materials—the replacement of polluting refrigerants, and the improvement of equipment energy efficiency.

“Extreme heat has become a silent threat, hitting the poorest hardest,” Andersen emphasized, warning that we cannot cool the planet by heating it even more.

For UNEP, following the Sustainable Cooling Pathway would prevent 2.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions by 2050 and save up to $43 trillion in energy and electrical infrastructure, while strengthening food and health security through cleaner cold chains.

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