Context

The first-ever global coalition on clean and efficient cooling was launched at the First Global Conference on Synergies between the 2030 Agenda and Paris Agreement, which recently concluded in Copenhagen, Denmark.

About

Global Cool Coalition

• It is a unified front that links action across the Kigali Amendment, Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals.
• It is expected to inspire ambition, identify solutions and mobilise action to accelerate progress towards clean and efficient cooling.
• It will complement and build upon ongoing successful programmes to advance clean and efficient cooling, including, the Cooling for All Secretariat, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Programme, private sector action like the Global Cooling Prize, and other initiatives.

What is the current scenario?

• Throughout the world, 2018 was the fourth hottest year, preceded by 2017, 2015 and 2016.
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD), too, warned that the season average maximum temperatures from April to June are likely to be warmer than normal by 0.5 degree Celsius.
• As the world gets warmer, the demand for air conditioners is projected to grow and the greenhouse gas it emits will endanger the planet.
• With increasing incomes and urbanisation, number of air conditioning units across the globe is set to increase from 1.2 billion to 4.5 billion by 2050, and India alone may account for one billion units.
• In the next 20 years, India's cooling requirement will increase by eight times, with air conditioners alone consuming more than half of the total energy required for cooling in the country by 2037-38.

Initiative taken by India

• India has already developed a national cooling action plan that was launched in March, 2019.
• The plan acknowledges that "there is an immense potential to rationalise the rise in requirement for active refrigerant-based cooling in the country by adoption of passive cooling design strategies across sectors.”
• Plan further says, wider proliferation of thermally efficient built spaces that have reduced heat load is required.
• It mentions other efforts as: insulation, shading, and enhanced natural ventilation, to reduce requirement of active-cooling.
• This reduced cooling demand then needs to be met using the energy efficient and climate-friendly technologies.