Key facts
- Air conditioning saves an estimated 5,267 lives per year in the U.S.
- Global electricity demand for cooling is expected to triple.
- Emissions from air conditioning could rise to 7.2 billion tons of heat-trapping gas in 25 years.
- Overuse of air conditioning is common and contributes to climate change.
- Air conditioning use exacerbates urban heat island effects and air pollution.
Air conditioning, while saving thousands of lives annually from heat-related deaths, is significantly contributing to global warming and straining electrical grids, according to scientists. The use of air conditioning is rapidly increasing worldwide, with electricity demand for cooling projected to triple. This surge in demand, often met by burning fossil fuels, is expected to dramatically increase greenhouse gas emissions from air conditioning, potentially reaching 7.2 billion tons in the next 25 years, nearly matching the current carbon pollution from the United States and Europe combined.
A study in Nature Health found that air conditioning saved nearly 58,000 lives in the U.S. between 2010 and 2020, with an average of 5,267 lives saved per year. However, researchers also noted significant overuse, particularly in office environments, where excessive cooling does not lead to additional life-saving benefits but does worsen climate change.
Experts are grappling with the challenge of providing necessary cooling to combat rising global temperatures without exacerbating the problem. The number of cooling degree days, a measure of energy needed for cooling, has risen substantially since 1990 in both the U.S. and Europe, reflecting increased demand.
Beyond climate impact, air conditioning contributes to the urban heat island effect by expelling waste heat outdoors and increases air pollution due to higher power consumption. Furthermore, access to air conditioning is an issue of fairness, as many vulnerable populations cannot afford it, forcing difficult choices between essential needs like medicine and staying cool during heat waves.