Most of India broke temperature records in 2024 and the Indian Metrological Department (IMD) predicted that the trend will continue this year as well. This phenomenon is aggravated by the intensification of humidity and can be attributed to climate change.
As heatwaves grow in frequency and intensity, cooling is no longer a luxury, it is increasingly becoming a necessity. India's cooling sector is expected to grow exponentially. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) estimated that air conditioner penetration in the country will rise to 40 per cent by 2038 from 8 per cent in 2018. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projected that cooling in the country is expected to account for around 45 per cent of electricity consumption in buildings by 2050.
But without immediate interventions to modify inefficient devices, the hydrofluorocarbon emissions from refrigerants used in cooling devices in India could reach 270 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent annually by 2050, offsetting much of India’s progress on climate goals.
While the country has taken some great steps in this regard, policy interventions are needed to make sustainable cooling units more affordable.
Refrigerants are either ozone-depleting or highly potent greenhouse gases. They are used in air conditioners, refrigerators and freezers. They absorb heat from one area and release it in another, enabling cooling of its surroundings.
Globally two indicators are used to measure their damaging potential:
• Ozone depletion potential (ODP) measures the damage a substance can cause to the ozone layer. ODP is measured relative to chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-11 also known as trichlorofluoromethane or Freon-11. It has an ODP of 1.
• Global warming potential (GWP) measures how much heat a gas traps compared to carbon dioxide (CO2) over 100 years. CO2 has a GWP of 1.
For instance, R-410A (puron) has zero ODP but a GWP of over 2,000. One kilogram of R-410A leaked into the atmosphere is equivalent to releasing two tonnes of CO2. The United Nation Environment Programme estimates that as cooling demand increases, refrigerants would account for more than 10 per cent global GHG emissions by 2050.
India’s cooling market features a mix of legacy refrigerants, transitional compounds and some climate-friendly alternatives. Legacy refrigerants such as R-22 (chlorodifluoromethane) is still widely being used in the majority of the operational older air conditioners, due to their long life span of 10-15 years. R-22 has an ODP of 0.055 but a GWP of 1,810. They are slowly being phased out and India has levied an import ban since 2020 and plans a full phase-out by 2030.
High-GWP HFCs such as R-410A are also widely used in split ACs and newer systems. R-134a (tetrafluoroethane) are used in refrigerators and vehicle air conditioning, they are also being phased out as India ratified the Kigali Amendment in 2021 to limit HFC use by 2028, begin systemic reductions by 2032 and expects to achieve an 85 per cent cut by 2047.
Other transitional refrigerants such as R-32 (difluoromethane) are being popularised and shipped with newer inverter ACs. With a GWP of 675, it is about 70 per cent lower than R-410A and also more energy-efficient. Though it is slightly flammable, it is steadily gaining market share in India.
Natural and low-GWP alternatives are also being explored by some major brands. R-290 (propane) and R-600a (isobutane); they have considerably low GWPs but are mostly flammable, requiring safety adaptations in design.
India’s refrigerant policy is closely shaped by its commitments under multilateral environmental agreements. India is a signatory of the Montreal Protocol of 1987 and has successfully eliminated CFCs in 2010. India has also ratified the Kigali Amendment of 2016 and has an elaborate roadmap to phase out HFCs by 2030.
India is also among the first countries to launch a national cooling action plan in 2019. The aim is to foster a comprehensive, multi-sectoral strategy to address the growing demand for cooling, while promoting sustainable practices. India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) targets 20-40 per cent cut in cooling-related energy use and training for more than 100,000 service technicians in alternative refrigerants by 2038. ICAP also promotes passive cooling techniques, improving building designs and adaptation of indigenous technology development.
BEE mandates star ratings that now include refrigerant type and GWP. The Ozone Cell under the Union Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) regulates import / export and use of controlled substances.
There is, however, no uniform policy for refrigerant recovery and disposal. A majority of the appliances are repaired and scrap recycling is done by the informal sector. Improper disposal of the appliances makes them extremely hazardous.
Domestic air conditioners are categorised as 'Consumer Electrical & Electronics Waste 4' under scheduled 1 of the e-waste management rules and fall under the purview of extended producer responsibility (EPR). The mechanism needs to be more stringent and pave ways to incorporate the existing informal recycling sector to make sure they are carefully managed post operational life.
India faces a mix of financial, technical and institutional barriers in switching to sustainable refrigerants. ACs with R-290 or R-32 can cost 10–15 per cent more than conventional units, which usually disincentivises the customers.
Very limited Indian consumers are actually aware of refrigerant types or their climate impact. This along with limited infrastructure for collection and destruction of used refrigerants makes the situation very challenging.
Subsidies and replacement schemes are required to make low-GWP ACs more viable under urban climate missions. Cities need to incorporate passive cooling (cool roofs, urban greenery, cross-ventilation) in planning and building codes. Mandatory labeling, recovery of refrigerants in municipal solid waste and electronic waste regulations are also necessary. More technicians need to be trained from the informal sector on safe handling of sustainable alternatives.
India is approaching a tipping point in its cooling transition. As major cities grapple with heat emergencies, cooling is essential. But this cooling must be clean, equitable and climate-compatible. Left unchecked, our reliance on high-GWP refrigerants could undo our gains in renewable energy, emissions reduction and climate justice.
By combining international commitment, domestic policy innovation and consumer awareness, India can lead the Global South in sustainable cooling.