Climate Facts: Mechanical cooling increases greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution

The complexities of climate change and its associated jargon can make it difficult to digest. TheCable’s climate quick facts will help to demystify these climate concepts through easy-to-understand and straight-to-the-point explanations.

Here are some to keep at the tip of your fingers:

• The United Nations says sustainable agriculture and strong forest protection could deliver over a third of climate change solutions.
• The supply of electricity from clean energy sources must double within the next eight years to put the world on a net-zero emissions trajectory by 2050, according to the UN.
• Demand for mechanical cooling equipment is driving up greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• Implementing and enforcing energy-efficiency standards, switching to less environmentally harmful refrigerants, and using low-carbon energy will be critical in years to come, according to UNEP.
• Global shift to a low-carbon economy can deliver at least $26 trillion in economic benefits through 2030, according to the UN.