By Abbas Nazil
A UNEP report released at the COP30 climate summit has pointed out the critical importance of sustainable cooling in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting lives across the globe.
The report warns that without the adoption of more sustainable practices, emissions from cooling could double by 2050, exacerbating global warming and straining energy systems worldwide.
UN Environment Programme Executive Director, Inger Andersen, stressed that cooling should be considered essential infrastructure, on par with water, energy, and sanitation, as it supports the functioning of hospitals, schools, and economies.
However, Andersen cautioned that over-reliance on conventional air conditioning systems could worsen the heat crisis, driving up emissions, increasing costs, and causing power grid overloads.
She called for energy-efficient solutions, including smart buildings, urban designs that reduce the carbon footprint of cooling, and affordable cooling technologies accessible to vulnerable populations.
The launch of the UNEP report coincided with the announcement of the Mutirão Contra o Calor Extremo, or Beat the Heat initiative, led by Brazil’s COP30 presidency and UNEP to enhance resilience against extreme heat events.
Ruth Do Coutto, Deputy Director for Climate Change at UNEP, highlighted that cooling emissions are rising globally and could double by mid-century if sustainable practices are not implemented.
Do Coutto emphasized the existence of a sustainable cooling pathway, showing that it is possible to meet growing cooling demand while reducing emissions through coordinated measures.
The report underscores the urgency for governments, industries, and communities to adopt low-carbon cooling solutions as part of comprehensive climate action strategies.
In addition to policy recommendations, the COP30 summit has witnessed climate activism, with protesters clashing with security forces outside the main venue, reflecting public demand for a rapid transition away from fossil fuels.
The UN’s call for sustainable cooling is part of broader COP30 discussions on clean energy, climate adaptation, and resilience, aiming to balance economic needs with environmental sustainability.
Experts at the summit stressed that immediate action on cooling infrastructure and efficiency is crucial to safeguard public health, reduce emissions, and support climate-resilient development worldwide. END
Report ranks India among top ten nations most-affected by climate change
By Abdullahi Lukman
India ranks ninth among the ten countries most-affected by climate change worldwide, according to the 2026 Climate Risk Index released by Germanwatch at the COP30 summit on Wednesday.
The report underscores the mounting toll of extreme weather events such as heat waves, storms, and floods on vulnerable nations.
The index lists Dominica, Myanmar, and Honduras as the three countries most severely impacted by climate-related disasters over the past three decades.
It also reveals that nearly 40 percent of the world’s population—more than three billion people—live in the eleven nations most exposed to extreme weather.
India’s high ranking reflects its growing vulnerability to climate-induced disasters that continue to disrupt lives and livelihoods across the country.
With a population of 1.4 billion, India remains one of the largest nations affected by heat waves, erratic monsoons, and devastating floods. China follows closely at 11th, while Libya, Haiti, and the Philippines—recently battered by typhoons Kalmaegi and Fung-wong—occupy the next positions.
Although the Global South dominates the top rankings, developed nations are also increasingly feeling the impact of a warming planet.
France ranks 12th, the highest among industrialised countries, followed by Italy at 16th and the United States at 18th.
Between 1995 and 2024, the report recorded over 9,700 extreme weather events worldwide, causing more than 830,000 deaths and an estimated 4.5 trillion dollars in economic losses, adjusted for inflation.
Heat waves and storms were identified as the deadliest and most financially destructive events, while floods affected the largest number of people.
Experts note that India has consistently featured among the countries most affected by climate extremes.
The 2020 Climate Risk Index had already placed India at the top for the highest number of fatalities from climate-related disasters in 2018 and second in economic losses.
Commenting on the findings, an Indian expert at the Belem conference said the report highlights the urgent need for stronger climate adaptation and resilience policies at both global and national levels.
“The latest data underline the enormous impact of climate change on India’s vulnerable populations and the pressing need for strategies to help communities withstand future shocks,” the expert said.