Factsheet

Cooling and Climate Change

25 March 2021
Mountain covered in snow

Cooling is an important component of modern life and economies. Refrigeration prolongs shelf life, safety and quality of everything from food to vaccines, and precise cooling conditions are essential for high-tech manufacturing, research, and data centres. At the moment, demand for cooling is driving up emissions and pollution, while innovation is unlocking benefits. The world will need to expand cooling access – while enforcing energy efficiency, low-carbon energy and phasing out harmful refrigerants.