A few years ago, the International Energy Agency projected that energy demand from air conditioners would triple by 2050, equivalent to adding 10 new air conditioners every second for the next 30 years.”In spite of that rise, two to five billion people will still lack access to air conditioners in 2050,” said Rishika Khosla, Research Director of the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development at the University of Oxford.She said ongoing research has shown that in a world two degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial times, the largest cooling demand, in terms of total population, will come from India, followed by China, Nigeria, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, the Philippines, and the US.Khosla said achieving thermal comfort for everyone without harming the planet is possible.This will require a strong focus on passive cooling methods, energy efficiency and phasing out harmful refrigerant gases.These measures can reduce cooling-related emissions by 66 per cent, with the remaining reductions coming from decarbonizing the electricity grid, she said.The Oxford researcher added that thermal comfort is not just about temperature. It also involves humidity, ventilation, radiant temperature, and clothing insulation.”Solutions go beyond just switching on one technology,” she said.India experienced an exceptionally harsh summer last year, recording 536 heatwave days, the highest in 14 years, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).Official data showed that during one of the hottest and longest heat waves, India recorded 41,789 suspected heat stroke cases and 143 heat-related deaths.This year, the heatwave arrived much earlier than last year.In 2024, Odisha saw its first heatwave on April 5, but in 2025, parts of Konkan and Coastal Karnataka experienced heatwaves as early as February 27-28.The IMD has forecast above-normal maximum and minimum temperatures across most parts of the country during the summer season which extends from March to May.
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