Background

Cities worldwide are grappling with intensifying heat stress, a growing threat to public health, urban livability, and economic productivity. This high-level ministerial session, hosted at the Singapore Pavilion during COP30, will demonstrate how global collaborations can catalyze innovative solutions to the urban heat challenge and offer guidance for cities seeking to move from planning to implementation.

Designated as the “implementation COP,” COP30 elevates sustainable cooling and extreme heat as headline priorities—reflected in flagship initiatives such as “Beat the Heat.” These efforts champion urban heat assessments, nature-based and passive cooling strategies, and the development of actionable plans led by the public sector. Such commitments are vital for cities to adapt to rising temperatures and remain central to Singapore’s national heat resilience strategy.

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Objectives

• Global Collaboration: The session will discuss the importance and benefits of international partnerships, including the Global Cooling Pledge and the Beat the Heat initiative, in addressing urban heat.
• Innovative Tools: It will showcase the Digital Urban Climate Twin (DUCT), a high-resolution modeling and simulation tool created by the Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC) to identify heat risks and inform targeted urban cooling interventions. The session will feature examples of DUCT’s application in cities such as those in Brazil.
• Thought Leadership: The session will also feature insights on how cities can shift from planning to implementation, with contributions from SEC and Arup Global.

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Outcomes

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Agenda

Opening Remarks
Grace Fu Hai Yien, Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment

Fireside Chat on the Impetus for Global Collaboration on Heat Resilience
Moderated by Calvin Chong, Divisional Director, Energy and Climate Policy, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment Singapore

• Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Singapore
• H.E. Adalberto Maluf, National Secretary of Urban Environment and Environmental Quality, Brazil

Showcase: Digital Urban Climate Twin capabilities and applications & heat vulnerability analysis in Belo Horizonte

Panel discussion with Arup and global city leaders on urban heat resilience strategies
Moderated by Calvin Chong, Divisional Director, Energy and Climate Policy, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment Singapore

• Dr Jasmine Lau, SEC Partnerships Lead
• Dr Erin Gill, Director and Head of Global Corporate Affairs and Partnerships, Arup
• Dr Graeme Maidment, Professor of Heating And Cooling at London South Bank University and cooling technical lead at DESNZ
• Martin Krausse, Climate Change Division Director, UNEP

Q&A and Closing

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Resources

Photo gallery

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