Too hot to ignore. Too urgent to delay.
The planet is sending signals we cannot ignore
Extreme heat is becoming one of the fastest-growing risks for cities worldwide. Many urban areas are already approaching, or will soon face, 50°C-equivalent conditions that threaten health, infrastructure and daily life. But cities are also leading with solutions. 50 @ 50 is a global activation for World Environment Day 2026. As a flagship activity of the Beat the Heat Implementation Drive, it will bring together diverse cities and create a high-visibility global moment, showcasing progress, elevating city leadership, and accelerating action. It is designed both for cities already experiencing extreme heat conditions seeking to showcase and strengthen their responses, and for those preparing for rising temperatures aiming to build resilience before such extremes arrive.
Objectives
Raise the visibility and urgency of urban heat risks among decision-makers and the public, aligning with key global climate milestones.
Showcase city leadership and readiness on extreme heat by highlighting how urban areas are preparing for and responding to rising temperatures.
Accelerate uptake of practical, sustainable cooling solutions by sharing proven approaches, tools, and peer learning opportunities.
Mobilize coordinated local action by engaging communities, city leaders, and partners through implementation support.
Call to action
Join 50 @ 50 and position your city at the forefront of global heat resilience efforts.
Choose your level of engagement
- Awareness & Storytelling (Light Engagement)
Amplify what cities are already doing and make it visible. A simple way to engage and build momentum over time.
- Public Engagement (Medium Engagement)
A local event, a public awareness campaign, a solutions showcase, or a local hackathon focused on heat resilience, while contributing to the global campaign.
- Preparedness & Planning (High Engagement)
A heat preparedness and planning exercise, following a methodology inspired by the exercise carried out by the City of Paris (October 2023).
Appoint a focal point to coordinate your city’s participation and engagement.
