UN recommends limiting air conditioning and taking action on transport

“Conserving energy, promoting public transport and nature-based solutions is essential,” said the UN Secretary-General. Antonio Guterres, by presenting a report with recommendations for responding to the current “energy crisis” triggered in large part by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The report is a series of short, medium and long-term measuresBeginning with a call for energy savings targeting the richest countries above all .

While the UN supports urgent measures that have been approved or discussed in many places, such as raising the temperature of air conditioners in the summer or lowering the heating in the winter, it is calling for other measures that can be implemented within months, such as improving the insulation of buildings. or install more efficient systems to heat homes.

Big expense for heating

As he remembers, In 2021, heating accounted for fifty percent of global final energy consumption.therefore these measures can have a large impact.

As for the air conditioner, the document shows that a difference of one degree can reduce the consumption of an appliance by ten percent.

stable at the UN actions in the field public transport such as lowering speed limits, incentives for public transport and shared vehicles, limiting business travel when there are other alternatives, or prioritizing trains over planes when possible.

At the same time, it calls on governments to support the most struggling households, facilitate access to energy and compensate for high prices.

In the medium and long term, the United Nations more stable commitment renewable energies, better electricity interconnections and forward-thinking measures to promote a green economy and reduce energy waste.