The Intergovernmental Committee on Cooling (IGCC) is the governance body of the Global Cooling Pledge. It brings together all Pledge signatory countries to track progress, set priorities, and accelerate implementation of the world's first collective commitment to reducing cooling-related emissions by 68% by 2050.
The Global Cooling Pledge was launched at the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai as a flagship outcome of the United Nations Arab Emirates Presidential Action Agenda. In the months that followed, signatory countries called for a more inclusive governance structure that would give all signatories an active role in steering implementation. The IGCC was established in response, transitioning from the initial negotiating Contact Group to a full intergovernmental committee formally adopted at the 2025 COP30 in Belém.
The IGCC provides strategic direction for Pledge implementation across six functions:
Track collective progress toward the 68% emissions reduction target through the annual Global Cooling Pledge Progress Report and the biannual Global Cooling Watch.
Facilitate knowledge exchange on policies, regulations, and best practices across signatory countries.
Set annual priorities to accelerate implementation of Pledge commitments.
Provide policy support through guidance, tools, and case studies.
Expand the coalition by engaging non-signatory countries, subnational governments, and private sector partners.
Propose new commitments to be endorsed by all national signatories.
Members are the national governments that have endorsed the Global Cooling Pledge. Each designates a National Focal Point responsible for coordinating implementation, reporting progress, and representing the country's priorities within the IGCC.
Co-Chairs provide strategic leadership, and are elected by members for two-year terms, representing different geographic and socio-economic regions.
Observers participate in IGCC discussions and provide input on request. Three categories of observers are recognised:
states that have not yet signed the Pledge
subnational signatories (cities, local authorities, and municipalities)
non-state actors including intergovernmental organisations, industry, research institutions, and civil society
Decisions are reached by consensus among members. All decisions are non-legally binding. Observer states and non-state observers do not participate in decision-making.
The IGCC operates through two meeting tracks:
Annual Ministerials, held alongside the UN Climate Change COPs. Ministers and senior representatives review the annual Progress Report, adopt priorities, launch implementation initiatives, and endorse recommendations.
Focal Point Meetings, held twice yearly (in person and virtual). National Focal Points exchange information on implementation, share best practices, participate in capacity building, and develop recommendations for ministerial consideration.
The IGCC is hosted by the UNEP Cool Coalition, which serves as its Secretariat. The Secretariat manages day-to-day operations, organises meetings, drafts reports and documents, coordinates communication across members and observers, and supports Pledge implementation through focal point engagement, capacity building, and policy support programmes.
The maintains linkages with: