The Indian Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) lays out cooling demand estimates over a 20-year period to address both the Climate Change aspects as well as socio-economic benefits. The Plan seeks to provide sustainable cooling and thermal comfort for all citizens while attempting to secure environmental and socio-economic benefits to the society, the Government of India claims. The Plan talks about how both direct and indirect emissions can be reduced, and environmental benefits can be balanced with the developmental needs of the country. 

The ICAP claims to provide an integrated vision towards cooling across sectors including reduction of cooling demand, refrigerant transition, enhancing energy efficiency and better technology options within the 20-year period. It asserts that along with significant climate benefits, the country would also have thermal comfort for all including cooling for houses of the economically weaker sections, sustainable cooling with low greenhouse gas emissions, doubling farmers’ incomes through better cold chain infrastructure, and dometic manufacturing of cooling equipment. 

Cooling is linked with economic growth and is recognised as key to the health, well-being and productivity of people in hot climates, the report acknowledges and states that India is a growing economy affected by low penetration of air-conditioning, rising per capita income and urbanisation. These factors coupled with the country’s tropical climate make it all the more susceptible to the increased need for cooling. In a world that’s adversely affected by Global Warming, it becomes important that the requirement for cooling is fulfilled while keeping the urgent need for sustainable solutions in mind.