Resources

The Guidelines for Passive Cooling Strategies in Cambodia provide a practical, climate-responsive resource to support the design and delivery of buildings that reduce reliance on mechanical cooling while ensuring thermal, visual, and acoustic comfort. Tailored to Cambodia’s hot-humid context, the publication offers clear guidance on the selection, application, and integration of passive cooling strategies at site, building, and component levels. Drawing on technical analysis, building typologies, and real-world demonstration projects, the Guidelines bridge theory and practice and support architects, engineers, policymakers, and other stakeholders in embedding passive cooling into building design, regulations, and implementation, contributing to lower energy demand, reduced emissions, and improved urban resilience.

The second edition of UNEP’s Global Cooling Watch Report, launched at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, takes a deep dive into one of the decade’s most urgent challenges: surging heat, soaring cooling demand, and stark inequalities in access.  Building on the 2023 edition’s analysis of global sustainable cooling trends, the report provides the scientific foundation for the Global Cooling Pledge and charts pathways toward near-zero emissions from cooling.

The Handbook on Urban Heat Management in the Global South, developed by the World Bank in partnership with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) brings together real examples and strategies from cities that are already tackling extreme heat. It focuses on powerful solutions that are feasible, affordable, and easy to adapt - especially those that expand access to accessible, sustainable cooling.

Developed to address the rising demand for sustainable cooling in Viet Nam’s Mekong Delta, this Action Plan offers an evidence-based roadmap to reduce urban heat, enhance thermal comfort, and improve energy efficiency in Can Tho City. It combines microclimate analysis, building simulations, and policy mapping to deliver targeted recommendations for city planners and decision-makers. While tailored to the local context, the Plan presents a scalable framework that can inform urban cooling strategies in other rapidly growing tropical cities around the world.

A practical framework for integrating sustainable cooling into national climate commitments. Cooling is a critical but underutilized pathway for achieving climate, health, and development goals. This guide provides a six-step approach for embedding sustainable cooling into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), supported by case studies and technical tools. It includes guidance on emissions assessments, target-setting, policy design, and implementation of measures such as MEPS, refrigerant phase-down, and passive cooling strategies.

The Compendium for Passive Cooling Strategies in Cambodia serves as a practical guide for integrating passive cooling strategies into Cambodia’s building sector. Tailored for architects, engineers, building owners, and professionals in construction and maintenance, it highlights three key types of strategies: site-oriented, design-oriented, and material/technology-oriented measures. Each section offers clear technical insights, practical application steps, and helpful tools to assist in selecting the most effective passive cooling options for projects. Beyond the core strategies, the compendium also includes a material directory and international case studies, providing additional support for the successful adoption of these solutions. 

The Compendium was developed and published by the Ministry of Environment of Cambodia. This work was made possible through the technical and financial support of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Cool Coalition, and the ClimateWorks Foundation, whose contributions were crucial to its development.

2030 Global Cooling Pledge Implementation Strategy outlines the strategy that will guide the UNEP Cool Coalition’s approach to supporting the implementation of the Global Cooling Pledge and/or the implementation of the Recommendations of the Global Cooling Watch Report for those countries who are not Pledge signatories, with a view to 2030.

This first official progress report outlines country actions and sectoral efforts taken in support of the Global Cooling Pledge. It highlights policy updates, implementation milestones, and early results from national commitments, providing a snapshot of collective momentum toward sustainable and equitable cooling. The Global Cooling Pledge Progress Report 2024 was endorsed during the inaugural Cooling Ministerial Dialogue, held at the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (COP29).

The Mobilizing Investment for the Developing World's Sustainable Cooling Needs report by International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)finds that adopting sustainable cooling solutions, as opposed to inefficient equipment that uses more power, could cut emerging economy consumers’ electricity bills by as much as $5.6 trillion over the next 25 years. It will also reduce the amount of new investment needed in additional power generation to meet peak electricity demand by $1.8 trillion.