The last decade was the warmest in Africa. As temperatures rise from climate change, extreme heat is becoming a major risk to health, productivity, and sustainable development across Africa. The region is projected to experience some of the highest increases in heat exposure globally. Africa bears a disproportionate burden of heat stress. About 300 million people in Africa experienced life threatening heat stress in the last one year; this is about 75% of all people exposed to risky levels of heat globally. 1 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Chage predicts nearly 35 African cities can experience more than 150 days of 40 °C plus temperatures annually in case of a 2°C global warming scenario. Rapid urbanization without appropriate urban planning is aggravating climate change in cities induced heat through urban heat islands caused from of natural blue-green covers so crucial for avoiding higher temperatures. Africa is witnessing the fastest population growth globally with corresponding high nutritional needs and agriculture sector is a dominant contributor to national gross domestic products. Rising heat is also disrupting crop yields and weakening vaccine supply; the ensuing threats to farmer incomes, and, food and nutritional security will have wider negative implications for equitable economic growth.
Extreme heat is additionally driving an unprecedented demand for energy as people race to invest in electrical cooling systems for relief. According to Global Cooling Watch 2023, Africa is projected to experience among the fastest growth in cooling demand globally, with inefficient cooling at risk of placing heavy burdens on energy systems and household expenditures. Rising and sustained heat in the African continent is thus risking livelihoods, health, and productivity. This can result in deeper inequality, strained energy systems, and dilution of hard-won development gains.
This Technical Side Event on Dialogue on Sustainable Cooling in Cities, Buildings and Cold Chain for Inclusive Extreme Heat Adaptation in Africa at the 20th Ordinary Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN-20), will showcase sustainable cooling, specifically passive cooling strategies in buildings and efficient cold chain, for extreme heat adaptation, implemented successfully in India and South-east Asia by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Dialogue within AMCEN 20 will aid in exploring pathways for adoption and scaling of such approaches in the African continent to address its unique climate, urban, and institutional realities.
Passive cooling, achieved through climate-responsive building architecture, enhance indoor thermal comfort by decreasing temperatures by upto 3-4 °C and reduce cooling energy demand by about 30 percent in buildings. Urban heat island effects (UHIE) and heat waves are also mitigated through intelligent integration in urban spaces. It becomes more critical in geographies where access to electrical cooling is restricted because of nascent markets or low purchasing power. UNEP’s Cool Coalition, the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction – GlobalABC and Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation – SDC are partnering to implement BeCool project in India to advance policies, finance, and capacities for passive cooling. It has resulted in successful national and sub-national action on building regulations and real estate sector capacity building for passive cooling, and, heat resilient city planning to mitigate UHIE. The Cool Coalition is also partnering with government and private sector to update policies, technical standards, and private sector capacities for integrating energy efficient and renewable energy technologies in cold chain infrastructure.
UNEP convened Cool Coalition is supporting African governments and institutions through a unique platform for technical cooperation, knowledge-exchange, and implementation support. With more than 250 partners, including national governments, financial institutions, cities, and the private sector, the Cool Coalition catalyzes technology and finance innovation, policy exchange and coordinated technical assistance for, sustainable cooling that work across diverse contexts.
UNEP led GlobalABC is the leading global platform for governments, private sector, civil society, research, and intergovernmental organizations committed to a common vision: A zero-emission, efficient and resilient buildings, and construction sector. Key initiatives include the Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate (ICBC), now with 47 members and 17 observers, hosted by UNEP/GlobalABC. ICBC aligns reforms, shares policies, and scales proven solutions, fostering collaboration among countries. GlobalABC also hosts the Buildings Breakthrough (BBT), a technical coalition of front-runner countries and partners working to make near-zero emission and resilient buildings the global norm by 2030.
UNEP convened Cool Coalition is supporting African governments and institutions through a unique platform for technical cooperation, knowledge-exchange, and implementation support. With more than 250 partners, including national governments, financial institutions, cities, and the private sector, the Cool Coalition catalyzes technology and finance innovation, policy exchange and coordinated technical assistance for, sustainable cooling that work across diverse contexts.
SDC is Switzerland’s international cooperation agency within the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and responsible for the overall coordination of development cooperation alongside other federal offices, as well as for Swiss humanitarian aid.
Organized on the sidelines of African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), the Breakfast Meeting offers an opportunity for African Mayors, Governors, and national technical experts to engage directly with climate experts. This closed-door conversation will center on the latest climate science and trends, including a frank conversation on the hard limits to adaptation to climate change and insights on a world beyond 1.5 and its implications on how cities are built and managed.