Background

As countries update their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and implement National Cooling Action Plans (NCAPs), buildings and cooling are emerging as central to low-emission, climate-resilient development. This session will examine how passive design, nature-based solutions, sustainable materials and private sector innovation can be integrated into national strategies to deliver both mitigation and adaptation outcomes. Drawing on case studies and policy experiences, it will explore how aligning NDCs and NCAPs can unlock systemic change, promote wellbeing and resilience and support equitable transitions in fast-growing urban areas.

Objectives

• Highlight the importance of aligning NDCs and NCAPs to deliver integrated, climate-resilient development strategies in the buildings and cooling sectors.

• Showcase country experiences from Bangladesh, Kenya, Somalia and others on incorporating buildings and cooling into national climate policy, planning and implementation.

• Demonstrate how technical roadmaps and planning tools such as the Buildings and Construction Roadmaps are informing national climate action and enabling practical implementation.

• Explore the role of private sector innovation in supporting national goals, scaling up sustainable cooling solutions and bridging the gap between commitments and delivery.

• Facilitate dialogue on enabling conditions including policy, financing, data and governance frameworks to accelerate the translation of national commitments into on-the-ground action.

Agenda

14:30 – 14:35
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Hongpeng Lei, Chief of Mitigation Branch, UNEP

14:35 – 14:45
Keynote
Mirza Shawkat, Director (Climate Change & International Convention), Department of Environment, Government of Bangladesh

14:45 – 15:20
Panel Discussion
Moderator: Hongpeng Lei, UNEP

• Kennedy Matheka, State Department of Public Works, Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, Kenya
• Abdullahi Khalif, NDC Partnership, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Somalia
• Bangladesh
• Nigeria
• Scott Tew, Global Head and VP, Sustainability Strategy, Trane Technologies

15:20 – 15:28
Audience Q&A
Moderated by UNEP

15:28 – 15:30
Closing Remarks
Trane Technologies

Resources

Slide deck