Cool Coalition Prepares for Historic COP30
in the Amazon
With the world having just endured the hottest year on record, the UNEP Cool Coalition is turning its focus to 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), set to take place from 10 to 21 November 2025 in Belém, Brazil. Held in the heart of the Amazon, a region teetering on the edge of ecological breakdown, this conference promises to be both a testament to the urgency of climate action and a stage for decisive global commitments. It also marks a historic milestone, coinciding with 10 years of the Paris Agreement and 20 years since the Kyoto Protocol’s entry into force, prompting a deep reflection on past progress and the bold transformations still needed. With global temperatures steadily surpassing 1.5°C thresholds and climate risks threatening ecosystems, economies, and communities, COP30 aims to drive unprecedented ambition, enhance finance mechanisms, and strengthen policy commitments, ensuring that sustainable solutions are woven into every level of climate strategy.
Building on last year’s momentum at COP29, the UNEP Cool Coalition will once again team up with the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) to co- host the Buildings and Cooling Pavilion in the conference’s Blue Zone. At last year’s event, more than 40 sessions featuring 235 speakers demonstrated how investments in district and passive cooling can help nations cope with increasing temperatures while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This intersection of sustainable cooling and building decarbonization will be even more prominent in Belém, aiming to scale up innovations that safeguard vulnerable populations and ecosystems from extreme heat. The Pavilion will bring together the entire cooling community and built environment value chain, offering special events, launches of new projects and reports, and an interactive panel showcasing key UNEP Cool Coalition publications. Among them, the Global Cooling Watch 2025, a biennial, data-driven report that lays out strategies for achieving near-zero cooling emissions, which is set to launch one month before COP30.
The UNEP Cool Coalition’s mainstay at COP30 will be the second Ministerial Roundtable, where more than 70 nations and 60 non-state actors will report on their progress in implementing the Global Cooling Pledge. Coming at a pivotal time for countries’ next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0), the Roundtable will feature the Annual Global Cooling Pledge Progress Report 2025, and introduce the newly formed Intergovernmental Committee on Cooling (IGCC), an expanded governance mechanism designed to reinforce collaboration and accountability. Under Brazil’s robust leadership, recognized through its position as Co-chair of the Global Cooling Pledge Contact Group, global leaders are expected to emphasize the critical role of sustainable cooling in climate mitigation and adaptation.
As the countdown to COP30 begins, the UNEP Cool Coalition remains steadfast in its commitment to cut cooling-related emissions by 68% worldwide by 2050 while ensuring broad access to affordable cooling solutions. From convening high-level ministers to hosting new sessions at the Buildings and Cooling Pavilion, the Coalition aims to channel the spirit of a global “mutirão,” mobilizing policies, investments, and partnerships to guide the planet toward a cooler, more equitable future.
To learn more about the Buildings and Cooling Pavilion or explore sponsorship, connect with Maliya Lazli at maliya.lazli@un.org.