{"id":454554,"date":"2026-07-07T12:43:32","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T19:43:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=454554"},"modified":"2026-07-07T12:43:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T19:43:34","slug":"green-war-on-air-conditioning-is-heating-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=454554","title":{"rendered":"Green War on Air Conditioning is Heating Up"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essay by <\/strong> Eric Worrall<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe cannot air condition our way out of climate change\u201d according to UNSW author Professor Mat Santamouris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cWe Cannot Air-Condition Our Way Out of Climate Change,\u201d Cooling Study Finds<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new global review argues passive cooling technology must become central to climate adaptation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Published: July 6, 2026 
Original story from the University of New South Wales, Sydney<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As temperatures rise around the world, air conditioning is saving lives. But a growing reliance on it is also placing unprecedented pressure on electricity grids, increasing greenhouse gas emissions and making cities even hotter.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n

A global review led by UNSW Sydney\u2019s Professor Mat Santamouris AM \u2013 an expert in innovative heat mitigation technologies and strategies for cities<\/a>\u2013 argues that keeping buildings cool without relying solely on air conditioning will be critical for adapting to climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Santamouris says passive cooling should no longer be viewed as a niche architectural feature, but as essential infrastructure for a warming world<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAir conditioning saves lives and will remain essential during extreme heat,\u201d he says. \u201cBut we cannot air-condition our way out of climate change. If every building depends entirely on mechanical cooling, we create enormous pressure on electricity systems while adding even more heat to our cities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Demand for cooling is soaring<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The review highlights the rapid growth in cooling demand worldwide<\/a>. Global electricity consumption for cooling has reached almost 10 per cent of total electricity use<\/a>, with around 10 new air conditioners sold every second<\/a>. By 2050, the number of residential air-conditioning units is projected to increase to almost 5.6 billion worldwide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026Read more: https:\/\/www.technologynetworks.com\/tn\/news\/we-cannot-air-condition-our-way-out-of-climate-change-cooling-study-finds-414335<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The abstract of the study;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n