First Movers Spotlight: Cities Leading from the Front on Sustainable Cooling

Date: Saturday, 9 December 2023

Time: 11:30 – 12:30 GST

Organizers: SEforaLL, UNEP and the Cool Coalition

Location: SDG 7 and Global South Pavilion

Streaming link: Login | SpotMe

Description:

Cities are on the frontlines of climate change, facing average warming of 4°C by 2100, but already dealing daily with the impacts of extreme heat, which damage human health, productivity and quality of life. 

Extreme heat most acutely affects the poor, who typically live in a city’s hottest neighbourhoods, have sparse access to green spaces, and are the least likely to be able to afford or access air-conditioned spaces.

Fortunately, many cities are leading from the front, implementing passive and nature-based solutions to mitigate heat and reduce the need for cooling, developing Heat Action Plans to protect those at risk, and deploying 'Chief Heat Officers.' These solutions respond directly to the needs of the poor and deliver far-reaching – and at times life-saving – benefits. 

These efforts will be supported at COP 28 by the Global Cooling Pledge, an initiative of the COP 28 Presidency to catalyse new commitments to advance sustainable cooling progress. In an effort to showcase urban leadership on cooling through the pledge, a cohort of cities will be invited to serve as ‘Champions’ of the pledge and showcase their commitment to heat action planning, urban greening, and sustainable public procurement at COP 28. 

This session will profile these urban champions and the solutions cities are using to provide sustainable cooling to vulnerable groups. It will demonstrate how urban planners, policymakers, and developers can make progress towards equitable access to urban cooling while also increasing resilience to climate change. By providing a platform for examples of urban leadership on sustainable cooling, it will also demonstrate the importance of joining the Global Cooling Pledge to other subnational governments.