Background

The first Global Cooling Pledge Focal Points Meeting, held in June 2025 in Bonn, Germany, was a milestone in moving from commitments to practical implementation. Co-hosted by Germany, Italy, and the UAE, and co-chaired by Brazil and the UAE, the meeting gathered Signatories to shape the next phase of Pledge delivery.

The June meeting achieved several important outcomes. The Secretariat provided feedback on the progress of the Pledge and its 2030 Implementation Strategy, and Signatories were introduced to the Enabling Pledge Implementation for Cooling (EPIC) Facility. EPIC was formally announced as a dedicated platform to channel technical assistance and capacity-building, responding directly to the needs identified by Signatories.

The Bonn meeting finalized the Terms of Reference for Cool Champions and advanced discussions on the draft governance framework for the Intergovernmental Committee on Cooling (IGCC), with a focus on inclusivity and accountability. It also highlighted the importance of technical support on integrating cooling into NDCs, NCAPs, and financing strategies, and emphasized the need to prepare for COP30, where the second Annual Global Cooling Pledge (GCP) Ministerial will sustain political leadership on the Pledge.

The upcoming virtual October 2025 Focal Points Meeting will build on these outcomes. It will provide an update on the development of the EPIC Facility, share updates on flagship initiatives such as Beat the Heat Implementation Drive, and finalize preparations for COP30. This includes finalizing the IGCC Terms of Reference and aligning with political messages and priorities for the Annual GCP Ministerial.

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Objectives

• Share progress and updates on Pledge implementation, including how countries can access support through the EPIC Facility and engage in the Beat the Heat Implementation Drive.
• Prepare for COP30 by reviewing the draft Ministerial agenda and expected political outcomes to sustain leadership and discourse on sustainable cooling.
• Finalize the IGCC to become ready for adoption at the COP30 ministerial.
• Update on progress of upcoming knowledge products and access to technical knowledge.

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Outcomes

1. Agreed roadmap for the COP30 Annual GCP Ministerial, including draft political outcomes e.g. Extreme Heat Communique
2. Agreement on the IGCC Terms of Reference.
3. Updates and demonstration of EPIC Facility implementation request form; Beat the Heat Implementation Drive; and Cool Champions Initiative
4. Enhanced capacity among GCP focal points on cooling-related NDC, NCAP, MEPS, passive cooling, and urban adaptation measures.

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Agenda

Moderator: Gulnara Roll, Manager, Mitigation Branch, UNEP

15:00 – 15:10 | Opening Remarks

• H.E. Adalberto Maluf, Vice Minister, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Brazil (Co-Chair)

• Mozah Alnuaimi, Director of Productivity and Demand Management Department, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, United Arab Emirates (Co-Chair)

15:10 – 15:20 | Welcome Remarks

• Hongpeng Lei, Chief of the Mitigation Branch, Climate Change Division, UNEP

• COP30 Presidency (TBC)

15:20 – 15:35 | Session 1: Global Cooling Pledge Progress

• Lily Riahi, Head, Cool Coalition Secretariat, UNEP

• Niroopa Kowlesser, Cooling Policy Specialist, UNEP-Cool Coalition

Discussion points:

• Update on Pledge implementation progress, NDCs, NCAPs, and knowledge products to drive action

• Operationalizing EPIC Facility:

  • EPIC Deploy and Finance

  • EPIC Solutions and expanding opportunities for national capacity building

15:35 – 15:50 | Session 2: Beat the Heat – Overview, Approach, and Role of Signatories

• Dr. Lenio Myrivili, Global Chief Heat Officer, UNEP, UN-Habitat, Atlantic Council Climate Resilience Center

• H.E. Adalberto Maluf, Vice Minister, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Brazil

Discussion points:

• Endorsing Beat the Heat: showcase the registration form

• Roadmap to COP30

15:50 – 16:05 | Session 3: Preparing for COP30 – Ministerial Agenda and Outcomes

• Dr. Graeme Maidment, Technical Lead, Cooling, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, UK Government

• COP30 Presidency (TBC)

Discussion points:

• Annual Cooling Ministerial Roundtable: IGCC Adoption

• Launch of Global Cooling Watch Report 2025

• 2025 Pledge Progress

• Communique on Extreme Heat

16:05 – 16:25 | Q&A, Open Discussion Among Signatories

• Hubert Nsoh Zan, Assistant Manager, Energy Efficiency Regulation / Energy Transformation Expert, Ghana (TBC)

16:25 – 16:30 | Closing Remarks

• H.E. Adalberto Maluf, Vice Minister, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Brazil (Co-Chair)

• Mozah Alnuaimi, Director of Productivity and Demand Management Department, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, United Arab Emirates (Co-Chair)

• Lily Riahi, Head, Cool Coalition Secretariat, UNEP