How Air Conditioning Is Driving Surging Global Electricity Demand

Douglas McIntyre, Editor-in-Chief at Climate Crisis 24/7, reports that air conditioning is becoming a major driver of global electricity demand. According to the IEA, worldwide electricity use will rise by an amount equal to Japan’s total annual consumption by 2027, driven by industrial growth, electrification, data centers, and surging A/C use. As extreme heat events become more frequent, air conditioning will shift from a luxury to a necessity, leading to a dramatic increase in global energy consumption.