Rising Air-Conditioning Use Intensifies Global Warming
Summary
Nature Communications reports quantify the warming impact of global air-conditioning (AC) use across five SSP-RCP scenarios, showing that income growth drives AC stock and associated energy emissions while the climate-warming feedback is relatively small. The study emphasizes the need for a rapid low-carbon cooling transition, decarbonization of power generation, and widespread adoption of low-GWP refrigerants, alongside highlighting global cooling inequalities that could influence policy and equity considerations.