How to keep people cool without making the planet even hotter

How to keep people cool without making the planet even hotter

June 24, 2026 · 1h 6m

About this episode

The episode discusses innovative cooling solutions to combat rising global temperatures and the challenges associated with traditional air conditioning.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.volts.wtf/subscribe You might have noticed that it’s kind of hot out there. And it’s only going to get worse: global demand for cooling is projected to triple by 2050. Finding a way to cool spaces and people without frying the planet is a crucial climate challenge. I’m joined by RMI’s Ankit Kalanki to unpack the hidden world of AC refrigerants and testing standards, the crucial distinction between lowering temperatures and dehumidifying, new AC technologies on the horizon, and the building and urban design changes that can take some of the pressure off.

People in this episode

Host: David Roberts

Guest: Ankit Kalanki

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Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: RMI

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