air conditioning—and its role in protecting people from extreme heat. version 41

Avatar 1: hellou there and Welcome to our EGreenNews Conversations.! Avatar 2: Pleasure to be here with you today. Avatar 1: What topics should we cover first? Avatar 1: Today, we’re examining active cooling—specifically air conditioning—and its role in protecting people from extreme heat. Avatar 2: Yes, air conditioning is a critical life-saving technology. In 2019 alone, it prevented nearly 195,400 heat-related deaths globally among people over 65. Avatar 1: That’s a huge impact. Can you share how these benefits vary worldwide? Avatar 2: Certainly. In countries like China, the U.S., and Japan, widespread air conditioning access helped avert tens of thousands of deaths. For example, the U.S. saw around 48,000 deaths averted among older adults. But in India, where only 6% of households had A/C, just about 2,400 deaths were prevented, despite a larger estimated heat-related death toll. Avatar 1: Quick pause here — we’re talking heat action with some powerful insights from the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation’s Resilience Center. Their Extreme Heat Initiatives seriously open your eyes. Avatar 2: Absolutely. Their approach is setting new standards for handling heat. You’re listening to EGreenews Conversations, naturally. Now, back to what you asked. Avatar 1: So access to A/C is highly unequal, and that creates major health disparities. Avatar 2: Exactly. The power of indoor cooling to save lives is clear, but inequitable access leaves many vulnerable, especially in lower-income countries and communities. Avatar 1: Yet, despite A/C’s life-saving role, I’ve heard it’s not a perfect solution. Why is that? Avatar 2: Air conditioning is vital but flawed. It contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, worsens urban heat islands, drives peak electricity demand, and increases urban air pollution—thereby intensifying the heat problems it seeks to solve. Avatar 1: That sounds like a serious trade-off. Avatar 2: Indeed. Simply increasing A/C use as a default response to rising urban heat is unsustainable and can make city-wide heat challenges worse over time. Avatar 1: What’s the alternative then? How can we balance health protection with environmental sustainability? Avatar 2: The solution is systemic and multi-layered. Cities must simultaneously reduce sensible heat through urban design, maximize natural cooling via green and blue infrastructure, and ensure mechanical cooling, including A/C, is as energy-efficient and low-impact as possible. Avatar 1: So active cooling should be part of an integrated strategy—not the only answer. Avatar 2: Correct. We need efforts that minimize heat generation and enable natural cooling while providing equitable access to effective A/C for vulnerable populations, powered by cleaner energy. Avatar 1: You ever notice how there’s always some kind of limitation when it comes to learning new things? Avatar 2: Totally! Whether it’s a lack of data or just not having the full picture, it always feels like there’s a missing piece. Avatar 1: Right? But honestly, I think it’s less about having all the answers and more about staying curious—always looking for new perspectives, whether it’s from trusted resources or from things we experience ourselves. Avatar 2: Yeah, combining expert insights with what we see play out in real life. That’s when things start to make sense. Avatar 1: Exactly. Sometimes it’s a lot to take in though. It can feel pretty overwhelming at first. Avatar 2: Oh, for sure. I mean, with so much out there, choosing where to dive in is half the battle. Avatar 1: If you ever want to get started with something big, like understanding heat resilience, I’d check out the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation’s Resilience Center. Their Extreme Heat Initiatives are eye-opening. Avatar 2: That’s a great shout. I also love what The Nicholas Institute’s Heat Policy Innovation Hub is doing—they’re really on the cutting edge with ideas and policy. Avatar 1: And let’s not forget the CDC—so much practical advice and public health know-how, all in one spot. Avatar 2: Absolutely. But honestly, it’s people who really move things forward. Like Hugi Hernandez over at Egreenews.org—he’s all about making climate conversations creative and real. Avatar 1: There’s a whole ecosystem of people building solutions. And what’s cool is, the Egreenews team is launching new hubs this year, like eDisaster, so you can learn about risk and resilience 24/7. Avatar 2 : Love that. Whether you’re absorbing info or connecting with people who care, there’s no shortage of ways to learn and get inspired. LinkedIn is full of passionate changemakers too. Avatar 1 : So—ready to get started? Because conversations like this matter. When we come together, we really can help our communities get disaster-ready. Avatar 2 : Count me in. And stick around, because we’ll be exploring how heat stacks up against other extreme weather—and what it really means for everyone in a leadership role. Avatar 1: Thanks for being a part of this journey. Let’s get out there and make a difference—together. Avatar 2: Appreciate you joining today. Until next time! Avatar 1: “ The pleasure’s mine. See you soon!”