Why

As extreme heat intensifies and cooling demand grows, leadership in this space has become just as critical as technology and policy. The Cool Champions initiative was created to make that leadership visible, credible, and repeatable, recognising those who are translating ambition into real-world impact.

Cool Champions is designed to:

  • Recognise outstanding leadership delivering tangible results in sustainable cooling.

  • Elevate diverse approaches across policy, planning, innovation, and implementation.

  • Create visibility for cooling as a critical development and climate issue.

  • Support momentum and learning under the Global Cooling Pledge and related efforts.

Who

Global Cooling Pledge national and subnational signatories.

Cooling industry leaders.

Civil society and academia reps advancing sustainable cooling.

How

Candidates may be nominated by third parties or self-nominated, depending on the category. 

Each Cool Champion serves for twelve months. To foster inclusivity, recipients are ineligible for re-nomination in the same category the following term. 

Submissions will be assessed by the Cool Champions Evaluation Committee against clear criteria, including leadership, impact, scalability, and alignment with sustainable cooling principles.

 

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When

Submissions open in January and close in end-March.

Evaluation Committee deliberates April to May.



Nomination ballots:

What

Joint Commitments

With the support of the Cool Coalition Secretariat, all Cool Champions will:

  • Contribute to one shared infographic and one short promotional video highlighting collective progress.
  • Participate in media features across press, broadcast, and digital platforms to elevate leadership stories and build momentum.
     

Governments

Each national and subnational Global Cooling Pledge signatory Champion commits to delivering two of the following during their term:

  • Host a ministerial-level political event at a major global forum such as COP, UNGA, or the G20 to secure new or strengthened Global Cooling Pledge commitments.
  • Lead high-level bilateral or plurilateral engagements with peer governments to advance Pledge-related targets and mobilise technical or financial partnerships.
  • Convene a regional or multilateral dialogue at ministerial or senior official level to align standards, share best practices, and promote region-specific solutions.
  • Host a high-visibility peer-learning visit for policymakers and senior representatives from other Signatories, showcasing successful cooling solutions and implementation strategies.
     

Individuals

Each individual Cool Champion is required to undertake one out of the following three functions during their term:

  • Spearhead a global advocacy campaign (earned media, social media, speaking circuit) that underscores sustainable cooling benefits and urging wider uptake.
  • Front a multimedia campaign (advertisement, short film, PSA) advancing public understanding of sustainable cooling and resilience.
  • Deliver mentorship masterclasses with youth, practitioners, and other stakeholders to amplify knowledge transfer and inspiration.

 

Media kit

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