John Kerry Targets Air Conditioners for Climate Change

The U.S. Special Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, continues to fortify the nation’s commitment to combating global climate change. Following his promise to cease all U.S. coal power plant operations, Kerry has now set a new goal: slashing the country’s emissions derived from cooling-related products.

The declaration came to light at the annual United Nations climate change summit — COP28. The United States, in collaboration with over 60 other countries, has signed up for the Global Cooling Pledge. This agreement represents the world’s inaugural collective endeavor to tackle climate-warming emissions originating from cooling devices and appliances.

The Global Cooling Pledge holds countries accountable for a significant reduction in their cooling-associated emissions. These countries must commit to lowering these emissions by at least 68% by 2050, with 2022 levels as the baseline. The pledge also encompasses other goals, such as setting minimum energy performance standards by 2030.

As the planet continues to warm, the use of air conditioning systems is expected to increase, causing a subsequent surge in emissions. Appliances under the cooling umbrella, like air conditioning units and refrigerators, present a significant problem. According to the Clean Cooling Collaborative’s research, emissions from cooling-related appliances and the energy used for cooling currently contribute to around 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Alarmingly, these figures could triple by 2050 as global temperatures rise.

“People will buy a very cheap air conditioner produced somewhere in Asia for 100 bucks and plug it in. That will load the energy system a lot, and there will be a collapse. I don’t think it’s a good idea to allow these individual plug-ins anymore.”

Jürgen Fischer, president of climate solutions at Danish multinational Danfoss, via FOX Business

As we endure more blistering heatwaves — July saw Las Vegas set an all-time heat record with over 17 days surpassing a sweltering 110 degrees — the installed capacity of cooling systems globally is also predicted to triple by the middle of the century. This climb is fueled not just by escalating temperatures but also by burgeoning populations and increasing incomes.

Kerry’s announcement builds upon the numerous pledges made at the conference by participating nations, aiming to address the impending climate crisis. The shared sentiment seems to be a call for swift and severe action for emission reduction; keeping the global temperature increase below 1.5 degrees Celsius is critical. Yet, skeptics argue that natural forces like the sun play a more dominant role in climate change.

In a similar vein, Kerry announced earlier in the COP28 conference that the United States had committed to not constructing new coal plants and phasing out existing ones. Cementing the nation’s dedication to a sustainable future, Kerry also disclosed a joint commitment with Romania to triple nuclear energy and curb methane emissions in order to achieve Net Zero, which revolves around minimizing greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible.