UNGA80: UNEP and COP30 Presidency
Open Global Call for Beat the Heat

As rising temperatures push cities beyond the limits of infrastructure, health systems, and public safety nets, the world is running out of time to adapt. No longer a seasonal spike, extreme heat has become a structural threat, and one of the clearest signs that climate change is reshaping everyday life. From food supply chains to school calendars, heatwaves are already straining systems built for a cooler world.

At the 80th United Nations General Assembly Climate Action Summit (UNGA80), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), through its Cool Coalition, and the COP30 Brazilian Presidency introduced Beat the Heat, a new global implementation drive to help countries turn national cooling commitments into practical, locally driven action.

The initiative builds on the momentum of the Global Cooling Pledge, the world’s first collective commitment to reduce cooling-related emissions by 68 percent by 2050 while expanding equitable access to sustainable cooling. Endorsed by more than 70 countries and 80 non-state actors, the Pledge provides a targeted roadmap to meet growing sustainable cooling demand. While rooted in the Pledge, Beat the Heat is open to all countries striving to foster sustainable cooling. It offers a platform to bring national targets to life, particularly in fast-growing urban areas, where infrastructure and planning systems are already under strain.

At the High-Level Solutions Dialogue on Accelerating Early Warning and Extreme Heat Solutions, UNEP New York Director Ligia Noronha and COP30 Executive Director Ana Toni invited countries to nominate one or more cities to participate in the initiative. From there, the drive will offer a structured framework for action: conducting urban heat risk assessments; scaling up passive and nature-based cooling solutions, such as green corridors and reflective surfaces; embedding cooling into building codes and urban plans; and using public procurement to shift markets toward efficient, low-emission cooling technologies. The focus is on practical delivery, peer exchange, and connecting local ambition to national strategy.

The UNGA80 announcement marks the opening of the global call for participation, building on the initiative’s announcement at the inaugural Global Cooling Pledge Focal Points Signatories Meeting in Bonn earlier this year. The first wave of participating countries and cities will be formally launched and presented at COP30 during the Delivering on the Global Cooling Pledge Ministerial Dialogue at the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, scheduled for 11 November 2025.

This is an opportunity for countries to demonstrate leadership in delivering climate ambition, and a timely chance to protect lives, economies, and the future of cities in a world that is heating up fast. Governments and partners can now express their interest here.