空调在挽救生命和应对极端高温方面发挥了关键作用，但其迅速增长也带来了严重的气候代价。根据研究，空调在美国2010年至2020年间拯救了近58000条生命，平均每年5267条1。然而，全球空调使用的激增正在推高碳排放。预计未来25年内，空调产生的碳排放将从45亿吨增至72亿吨，相当于美国和欧洲目前的碳污染总和1。与此同时，全球空调电力需求预计三倍增长1。
气候变化加速了制冷需求的上升。美国冷却度日自1990年以来增加了28%，2024年创下纪录，2026年预计再次超越1。欧洲的趋势更为明显，冷却度日自1990年以来增长超过100%，空调使用增加44%1。在全球能源危机的压力下，8个国家采取了限制措施，包括限制办公空调温度或禁用一天1。
专家正在努力平衡通过更多制冷来应对热浪与防止气候进一步恶化之间的矛盾。研究发现，50%以上的空调使用属于过度使用1。新加坡通过城市绿化等措施提供了替代方案的范例，该市每年因此节省3500万美元能源成本，在某些地方将温度降低了14华氏度（8摄氏度）1。全球冷却承诺计划于9月在新加坡召开会议，汇聚全球75个国家和250个城市的专家共同讨论这一问题1。
Air conditioning provides critical public health benefits while simultaneously driving significant increases in global carbon emissions, according to research addressing a fundamental challenge in climate adaptation. Between 2010 and 2020, air conditioning saved nearly 58,000 lives in the United States, averaging approximately 5,267 lives per year.1 However, this life-saving technology comes with substantial environmental costs as global cooling demand surges.
The expansion of air conditioning use is projected to dramatically worsen climate impacts. Worldwide electricity demand for air conditioning is expected to triple, while carbon emissions from cooling are anticipated to rise from 4.5 billion tons to 7.2 billion tons within 25 years—a volume equivalent to the combined current carbon pollution of the United States and Europe.1 Contributing to this trend, cooling degree days in the United States have increased by 28 percent since 1990, with 2024 marking a record year and 2026 projected to surpass it again.1 Europe has experienced even steeper growth, with cooling degree days rising more than 100 percent since 1990 and air conditioning usage increasing by 44 percent.1
Addressing the tension between climate protection and public health needs, the Global Cooling Commitment is scheduled to convene in Singapore in September to discuss solutions.1 Research has identified that more than 50 percent of current air conditioning use represents overcooling.1 Singapore has demonstrated one model for mitigation, using urban greening strategies to save 3.5 million dollars in annual energy costs while reducing temperatures by as much as 14 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius) in certain areas.1 Meanwhile, eight countries have already restricted office air conditioning temperatures or imposed single-day bans in response to global energy crises.1
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