European cities are expanding sustainable cooling measures such as green infrastructure, reflective building materials, and district cooling networks to reduce reliance on conventional air conditioning. Governments are updating urban planning and building standards while encouraging energy-efficient cooling technologies to address rising temperatures. Although air conditioning remains dominant, demand for alternative cooling solutions is expected to grow rapidly as heatwaves become more frequent and severe.
With Europe facing more frequent and hotter heatwaves, the uptake of air conditioning systems has soared across the region in recent years. This trend is driving energy demand and making it more difficult for countries to reduce reliance on fossil fuels in favor of renewable alternatives. Several countries across Europe have made ambitious green transition pledges, which is why many governments, companies, and researchers are exploring alternative, less carbon-intensive methods for cooling.
Researchers have been investigating alternative cooling methods for years to reduce dependence on energy-hungry air conditioners. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) highlighted this need in its publication, the Global Cooling Watch Report 2023: Keeping it chill. In the report, the UNEP forecast that the global installed capacity of cooling equipment would triple by 2050, more than doubling electricity consumption.
To encourage a shift away from air conditioners, the UNEP launched its Nature for Cool Cities Challenge in 2023 as part of the Cool Coalition, a global network of over 80 partners aiming to drive the transition to efficient, climate-friendly cooling.
Urban planning can significantly affect the impact higher temperatures can have on a town or city. One of the obvious ways to make new buildings cooler is to design and build them using innovative designs, techniques, and materials. For example, a building can incorporate bricks and other materials designed to absorb heat during the day and radiate it at night.
