Cooling Solutions for Europe: From Air Conditioning to Green Urban Design

Europe is increasingly facing frequent and extreme heatwaves, leading to a surge in demand for air conditioning installation in recent years. This trend is pushing energy demand higher and making it difficult for countries to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels to transition to renewable energy solutions. In the context of many European countries having made ambitious green transition commitments, governments, businesses, and researchers are seeking alternative cooling methods with lower carbon emissions.

The Cooling Challenge and Environmental Impact

In recent years, Europe has experienced historic heatwaves, causing a sharp increase in demand for air conditioning use. This creates a paradox: countries are striving to reduce emissions while facing growing energy demand from cooling devices.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) highlighted this urgent need in its "Global Cooling Watch Report 2023 Keeping it chill." The report forecasts that global cooling equipment installation capacity will triple by 2050, increasing electricity consumption by more than double.

The Dual Impact of Traditional Cooling Systems

Air conditioning and refrigeration systems cause two types of emissions:

• Indirect emissions from electricity consumption
• Direct emissions from refrigerant release, most of which have a much higher planetary warming potential than carbon dioxide

To encourage the transition away from air conditioning, UNEP launched the "Nature for Cool Cities Challenge" in 2023, part of the Cool Coalition - a global network with over 80 partners promoting the transition to efficient and climate-friendly cooling solutions.

Urban Design Solutions for Cooling

Urban planning can significantly influence the impact of high temperatures on a town or city. One of the most straightforward ways to create cooler buildings is to design and construct them using innovative designs, techniques, and materials.

Global Examples of Smart Urban Design

In Cambodia, UNEP is collaborating with partners to test passive cooling measures such as insulation, shading, and targeted roof design to evaluate their impact on heating and cooling in buildings.

In South Korea, the Seoul government dismantled a 10-lane road and an elevated 4-lane highway to revive the Cheonggyecheon stream, thereby reducing the urban heat island effect the city was experiencing. Temperatures along the stream are 3.3°C to 5.9°C lower than on a parallel nearby road.

Urban Cooling Islands

In Paris, authorities have established "cool islands," where water, vegetation, and shading structures help create spaces several degrees cooler than surrounding areas. These areas include parks, swimming pools, and some buildings. In Paris, the number of cooling islands has increased from 800 in 2019 to over 1,400 by 2026.

In Marseille, the government has announced plans to plant more greenery throughout the city, which will create shade and improve cooling through a natural process called evapotranspiration, where trees absorb water and release it through their leaves while moisture from the soil evaporates.

Examples from European Cities

Advanced Cooling Technologies

Beyond changing urban planning to prepare for higher temperatures, governments and private companies are increasingly using technology to improve cooling methods.

District Cooling

District cooling is a method used in many cities to distribute chilled water to multiple buildings through underground networks. This method uses less energy than individual air conditioning systems and can be powered by local sources such as seawater or river water.

The European Commission's Energy Efficiency Directive requires cities with more than 45,000 inhabitants to establish local heating and cooling plans to address rising temperatures. The 2025 District Cooling Market Outlook report by Euroheat & Power shows that demand for district cooling (DC) is increasing, with DC infrastructure in Europe expanding by over 3% in 2023.

Example: Paris District Cooling System

Paris hosts one of the world's largest DC networks. The 120km system, developed in the 1990s, includes underground pipes that transport chilled water to museums, offices, hospitals, schools, and other public buildings. The system distributes cold water from the Seine River to buildings through one pipe and returns warm water through another.

Heat Pumps

Heat pumps, increasingly common in the European market in recent years, offer another cooling solution. Air-to-air heat pumps, rather than air-to-water heat pumps, consist of an outdoor unit connected to one or more indoor fans. They warm the air inside a building and can also transfer warm air from inside to outside. These systems are becoming increasingly financially feasible as demand grows.

The Future of the European Cooling Market

Air conditioning systems still dominate the cooling market due to the lack of availability or higher costs of alternative systems. However, the market is forecast to expand significantly in the coming decades as consumers seek energy-efficient cooling solutions.

In the meantime, governments can help address higher temperatures by improving urban planning, updating building standards, and where possible, installing district cooling systems.

The transition to sustainable cooling solutions is not just a choice but an urgent necessity for Europe in the context of climate change. By combining advanced technological solutions with smart urban planning strategies, the region can ensure comfort while still achieving ambitious climate goals.