Scienceenvironment
Air conditioners contribute to climate change and a 40-year treaty
As record-breaking temperatures drive a massive surge in global air-conditioning sales, scientists and environmentalists warn about the hidden climate costs of cooling technologies. While modern life increasingly relies on these systems to endure extreme heat, their energy consumption and chemical refrigerants create a compounding environmental problem. International efforts, notably a decades-old global agreement, have long sought to regulate the harmful chemicals driving this crisis. However, as demand continues to rise exponentially, policymakers face mounting pressure to accelerate transitions to cleaner cooling alternatives.