I wonder if Simmone Shah, who wrote this, has done away with her own use of AC? Especially since all she seems to write about is climate doom. How about Time magazine at their office, since they approved publishing this, and hired her
New Study Finds Air Conditioners Will Exacerbate Climate Change As Planet Warms
As global temperatures rise, the very thing we turn to to keep ourselves cool could be a significant contributor to increased emissions and an even warmer planet.
A new study published today in the journal Nature Communications estimates that, by 2050, air-conditioning use is expected to more than double as more people turn to air conditioning to stay cool amidst rising temperatures, contributing significantly to expected greenhouse gas emissions. What’s more, as incomes rise in developing countries and more low and medium-income regions achieve the same access to AC as high-income regions, we could see an additional 0.015°C to 0.05°C of warming by 2050.
The rise could create what the researchers call a “feedback loop,” in which closing the inequality gap and improving access to air conditioning would put global climate targets out of reach. Regions most vulnerable to rising temperatures, such as South Asia and Africa, currently have the least access to air-conditioning. In contrast, wealthier regions like Europe and North America have lower cooling needs but higher air-conditioning usage.
“The study reveals that if all low?income regions gained the same access to air-conditioning as rich regions, related global emissions would jump dramatically—adding up to 0.05°C extra warming even in the most climate?friendly scenario,” Hongzhi Zhang, from the Beijing Institute of Technology, the first author of the study, said in a press release.
It’s long been known that air conditioning contributes to global warming. Existing cooling equipment uses hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants, which are potent greenhouse gases. One 2023 estimate from the U.N. claims that refrigeration and air conditioning are responsible for 7% of global emissions.
A couple things. First, yes, those refrigerants can cause anthropogenic warming, but, really, not much in Reality Land. Second, said warming is only a rise of 1.7F since 1850. Absolutely no big deal, especially since most is nature, land use, urban heat island effect, and a tiny bit from anthropogenic greenhouse gases.
Third, I love how 1st World Warmists always want to deny things like AC that they themselves use and won’t give up to those in the 3rd world. Kinda bigoted, eh?
Our distinguished host wrote:
Clearly, we must deny industrialization and the benefits of Western civilization to the great unwashed, to save Mother Gaia!
William typed: “…warming is only a rise of 1.7F since 1850. Absolutely no big deal, especially since most is nature, land use, urban heat island effect, and a tiny bit from anthropogenic greenhouse gases.”
Yikes. On what does William base his conclusions? Scientists who have studied this for decades disagree with William.
We know, we know… scientists are all bribed to say that by a global commie cabal seeking global domination!!