Why energy efficiency should matter this World Ozone Day
climate change accelerates, the urgency grows around two key threats—indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from inefficient air-conditioning and refrigeration appliances powered by fossil fuel-based electricity, and direct GHG emissions from harmful refrigerants in these systems. Cooling is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity in our rapidly warming world.
In 2024, north-central India and the eastern coast saw temperatures surpass 50°C, particularly in urban areas. Yet, how we use cooling to fulfil critical needs related to thermal comfort in buildings, agriculture and food supply chains, storage and transfer of medical products, transport, and industrial processes can exacerbate or alleviate the climate crisis.
The Montreal Protocol, originally designed to protect the ozone layer, expanded its scope with the 2016 Kigali Amendment to address climate change by targeting refrigerant gases called hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) used for air-conditioning and refrigeration. This shift is rooted in the knowledge that HFCs could cause significant warming—potentially up to 0.52°C by 2100.
It is estimated that the Kigali Amendment would limit the climate impact of HFCs to 0.06°C by 2100.
Maximising the climate benefits of the Kigali Amendment requires linking HFC phasedown with energy efficiency improvements, as efficiency delivers about two-thirds of GHG reductions by lowering electricity emissions, with refrigerant transitions contributing the rest.
Further, energy-efficiency improvement can deliver health benefits by minimising emissions and air pollution associated with fossil fuel-based electricity generation. Moreover, integrating efficiency upgrades with transitioning to better refrigerants offers cost savings for
. Read more on economictimes.indiatimes.com
