Daily Current Affairs : 11-December-2023
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has launched a comprehensive action plan, detailed in the report “Keeping it Chill: How to meet cooling demands while cutting emissions.” This initiative aims to significantly curb emissions from the global cooling sector, with a remarkable goal of achieving a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Addressing the Significance of the Cooling Sector
The cooling sector plays a pivotal role in mitigating rising temperatures, ensuring food safety, supporting industrial processes, and fostering productive economies. However, without effective intervention, it poses substantial challenges, including a significant increase in electricity consumption and emissions.
Electricity Consumption and Emissions:
- The cooling sector currently accounts for 20% of global electricity consumption.
- Unchecked growth could triple the installed capacity of cooling equipment, leading to more than a twofold increase in electricity consumption by 2050.
- This trajectory could contribute 4.4 to 6.1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions in 2050, representing over 10% of projected global emissions.
Benefits of Sustainable Cooling
Savings and Efficiency:
- Passive cooling measures, such as shading, ventilation, insulation, green roofs, and reflective surfaces, offer economic savings of USD 17 trillion between 2022 and 2050.
- Adoption of higher energy efficiency technologies for cooling equipment can significantly reduce energy consumption and emissions, benefitting both users and utilities.
Alternative Cooling Substances:
- Advocating for the use of hydrocarbons, ammonia, or carbon dioxide over hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in cooling equipment.
- HFCs, described as potent greenhouse gases, contribute to super-pollutant properties and trap heat hundreds to thousands of times more than carbon dioxide.
Phase-Down Initiative:
- Urges a faster phasedown of climate-warming refrigerants and air conditioning under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.
- Emphasizes the role of low-global warming potential refrigerants in reducing direct emissions from cooling devices.
Important Points:
- UNEP’s Action Plan for Sustainable Cooling
- Goal: 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
- Initiative aligned with the Global Cooling Pledge led by the UAE and the Cool Coalition.
- Addressing the Significance of the Cooling Sector
- Vital role in mitigating rising temperatures, ensuring food safety, and supporting economies.
- Challenges: Unchecked growth could triple electricity consumption and contribute over 10% of global emissions by 2050.
- Electricity Consumption and Emissions:
- Cooling sector currently constitutes 20% of global electricity consumption.
- Unchecked growth could triple installed capacity, leading to a more than twofold increase in electricity consumption by 2050.
- Estimated emissions between 4.4 to 6.1 billion tonnes of CO2e in 2050.
- Benefits of Sustainable Cooling
- Economic Savings and Efficiency:
- Passive cooling techniques offer USD 17 trillion savings between 2022 and 2050.
- Adoption of higher energy efficiency technologies reduces energy consumption and emissions.
- Alternative Cooling Substances:
- Advocacy for hydrocarbons, ammonia, or carbon dioxide over HFCs.
- HFCs described as potent greenhouse gases with super-pollutant properties.
- Phase-Down Initiative:
- Urges faster phasedown of climate-warming refrigerants under the Kigali Amendment.
- Low-global warming potential refrigerants can reduce direct emissions from cooling devices.
- Economic Savings and Efficiency:
Why In News
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has put forth an action plan outlined in the report “Keeping it Chill: How to meet cooling demands while cutting emissions,” with the goal of significantly decreasing emissions from the global cooling sector. This initiative has the potential to make a substantial impact, foreseeing a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The report’s release aligns with the Global Cooling Pledge, a collaborative effort led by the United Arab Emirates, the host of the Conference of Parties (COP28), in conjunction with the Cool Coalition.
Furthermore, the implementation of these measures aims to foster international cooperation in mitigating climate change and promoting sustainable cooling solutions.
MCQs about UNEP’s Action Plan for Sustainable Cooling
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What is the primary goal of UNEP’s action plan for sustainable cooling?
A. Achieving 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
B. Phasing out the use of cooling equipment globally.
C. Attaining a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
D. Establishing a Global Cooling Pledge.
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Why is the cooling sector considered vital?
A. Due to its contribution to global warming.
B. For its role in reducing electricity consumption.
C. Because of its impact on food safety and supporting economies.
D. Solely for its economic savings potential.
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What percentage of global electricity consumption does the cooling sector currently constitute?
A. 10%
B. 15%
C. 20%
D. 25%
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What is emphasized as an alternative to hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) ?
A. Increased use of HFCs for improved efficiency.
B. Advocacy for hydrocarbons, ammonia, or carbon dioxide.
C. Complete abandonment of refrigerants.
D. Expansion of HFC production facilities.
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