How do we stay cool in a warming world?
Heatwaves are already the most deadly of climate risks. If we don\u2019t keep climate change in check, we\u2019ll experience more of them, reaching even higher temperatures.
Already we need cooling to keep our homes, hospitals and workplaces comfortable, our vaccines stable and our food nutritious. As the planet warms up we\u2019ll have even greater need.
Currently the cooling industry is incredibly polluting \u2013 it accounts for around 10% of global CO2 emissions. And the demand for it is only going to increase. An International Energy Agency report said that the amount of air conditioners will grow by 5.6 billion by 2050, up from 1.6 billion today \u2013 which amounts to 10 new ACs sold every second for the next 30 years.
So how can we cool our warming world sustainably?
This episode looks at the biggest problems with cooling, the rapid rise in air conditioners and the surprisingly simple ways we can keep things cool without using any energy at all.
Presenters Luke Jones and Graihagh Jackson are joined by:
Zerin Osho, International Climate Law and Policy at Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development\nKarim Elgendy, Associate Fellow at Chatham House and Associate Director at engineering consultancy firm Buro Happold\nChhavi Sachdev, Journalist, India
Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com
Producer: Lily Freeston\nResearcher: Natasha Fernandes\nProduction Coordinators: Siobhan Reed and Sophie Hill\nSeries Producer: Alex Lewis\nEditor: China Collins\nSound Engineer: Tom Brignell