Protecting people against extreme temperatures is a profound public health, economic and educational imperative. Deadly and frequent heatwaves in the UK, Europe and around the world caused by underlying climate change have justifiably increased support for additional air conditioning for children, the elderly, hospitals, outdoor workers and for other vulnerable populations.
Protecting people against extreme temperatures is a profound public health, economic and educational imperative, say Bledsoe and Andersen. They highlight super-efficient cooling powered by low-carbon sources and using climate-friendly refrigerants as a solution. “The most efficient room air-con units sold in North America and Europe achieve twice the efficiency of a typical purchase and can lower emissions still further when powered by solar and other forms of clean energy,” they write.
Last week, the irritatingly bureaucratic European Union Commission issued a surprisingly sensible new compromise regulation calling for methane limits on natural gas imports but allowing companies to comply…