Rising mercury can cost the economy dear. Heat stress reduces productivity through increased mortality, health impacts and loss of working hours. By 2050, it will cost as much as 2.8% of global GDP. Today, only 13% of Indian households have ACs. Even at this modest level, cooling accounts for nearly 10% of electricity demand. Increased AC use led to a 21% increase in electricity consumption between 2019 and 2022. Cooling-induced GHG emissions are estimated to account for at least 7% of India’s total emissions by 2037.
The challenge lies in meeting cooling needs without adding to the planetary and economic burden. Cooling is an economic opportunity, estimated to create up to $1.6 tn in investment opportunities. Implementing the India Cooling Action Plan, launched in 2019, must be a priority. It aims to reduce cooling energy requirements by 25-40% by 2037-38 through passive and active measures, such as better construction, using design, building materials, landscaping, greening of habitations and cool roofs. Adopting systems like district cooling – creating a network of buildings cooled through a central unit – can bring cost and energy efficiencies. Tackling rising heat requires changing how we build, plan our towns and cities, and travel.
