Growing heat needs affordable cooling

It's not just the subcontinent facing summer whiplash. Europe is setting records with 41° C in Paris and 36° C in London. Europe is the fastest-warming continent, and Asia is warming at nearly 2x global average rate, pushing limits of human endurance. Cooling is not a luxury but an existential necessity. Global energy demand for space cooling has risen by 4% annually since 2000, and installed cooling capacity is on track to triple by 2050. Meeting this demand solely through conventional ACs will spike GHG emissions and intensify urban heat islands.

As temperatures soar, an uneven 'cooling divide' threatens the world. Bridging this gap requires a dual approach. First, we must aggressively deploy immediate, low-cost passive cooling options for vulnerable populations. Solutions like cool roofs, reflective paints, and climate-resilient building designs that maximise natural cross-ventilation can greatly reduce indoor temperatures without drawing a single watt of power. Second, we must look toward innovative systems. While we need newer technologies like district cooling - which cools entire neighbourhoods via centralised networks - or advanced evaporative cooling to drastically lower environmental impacts, they can't remain premium solutions. We must develop these technologies at an affordable price point, democratising access so they are viable for all segments.

Search for cooling solutions that equitably meet rising needs, without breaking the planet or the bank, presents India with a leadership opportunity. Developing a diverse array of energy-efficient, climate-friendly and cost-effective cooling technologies must be treated as a critical, global moonshot - ensuring the solutions of tomorrow protect both the rich and the poor alike.