Assembly overview

The Global Cooling Pledge Focal Points Meeting will take place within the Assembly as the first formal meeting of members of the Intergovernmental Committee on Cooling (IGCC), the governance body to guide implementation of the Pledge. This meeting will allow signatory governments to take stock of progress under the Global Cooling Pledge; discuss and agree on possible updates on the 2030 Pledge Implementation Strategy Phase 2 and IGCC Workplan 2027; and enhance readiness of the Pledge signatory countries to utilize the Pledge implementation mechanisms (including the EPIC Facility and Beat the Heat) for effective technical assistance. The Assembly will culminate in the endorsement of Assembly outcomes, including the updates to the implementation strategy and workplan, alignment on priorities and shared political messaging for COP31 and 32, while providing space for bilateral engagement and partner coordination to support delivery in the years ahead.

The primary focus of the Global Cooling Assembly is to bridge the gap between commitment and delivery by connecting governments with industry, financing, and implementation partners. It will do so by facilitating access to technical and financial support mechanisms under the Global Cooling Pledge and Beat the Heat - including the EPIC Facility and Beat the Heat Implementation Drive.

• Regional Roundtables: A series of regional roundtables (Africa, Asia and LAC) will convene countries to share targeted opportunities and barriers for implementation, align on shared priority thematic areas and needs at the regional and sub-regional levels, and explore how technical assistance, financing, and support can be mobilized in response to identified needs and opportunities, including through commitments under EPIC or other implementation mechanisms and longer-term partnership initiatives. 
• Implementation Roundtables: A series of implementation roundtables will showcase scalable solutions and delivery to countries and cities on priority areas (including national planning for cooling, investment planning, passive and nature-based renewable-based cooling and efficient technologies). This aims to strengthen technical and institutional capacity of focal points, but also to mobilize the Cool Coalition ecosystem, including governments, industry, manufacturers, and finance partners, to accelerate implementation through strengthened commitments. 
• Beat the Heat Trainings: These trainings aim to strengthen links between national priorities and city-level implementation under the Beat the Heat Implementation Drive, by providing opportunities for cities to exchange knowledge and build capacity on shared priority areas (including integrated urban heat planning, passive and nature-based cooling and financing)
• Site Visits: A series of site visits showcasing passive cooling, nature-based design, and efficient cooling infrastructure in practice, providing participants with tangible examples of how cooling solutions can be deployed and scaled.

The Assembly plans to launch the Manufacturers Platform, under the UNEP Cool Coalition and operationalized by U4E, which aims to turn the GCP commitments into market reality, connecting policy signals and demand with manufacturers ready to supply efficient, low- and ultra-low GWP cooling. The platform will initially focus on appliances, with phased expansion to buildings, equipment and cooling energy systems. 

The Assembly will also introduce the Cool Champions initiative to showcase leadership and concrete implementation, strengthening the global visibility of sustainable cooling and reinforcing its role as a priority sector for climate action and resilience.