On 9 October 2025, international stakeholders convened for the penultimate session of the COP30 Buildings and Cooling Pavilion webinar series, setting priorities for housing, cooling, and water resilience in the lead-up to the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil.
Ambassador Antônio da Costa e Silva, Chief International Adviser at Brazil’s Ministry of Cities and Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Council for Buildings and Climate (ICBC), opened the session by stressing the need for implementation and equity in the built environment transition. He urged partners to translate agreed principles into practical action, aligning with the upcoming ICBC Belém Call to Action.
Maliya Lazli, Programmes Expert at the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), presented the UNEP Cities Unit’s key strategies for COP30. These include the updated Global Buildings Climate Tracker, a refreshed Global Status Report, and integration of cooling into broader climate frameworks. Lazli highlighted initiatives such as the Beat the Heat Implementation Drive and the Global Cooling Pledge Ministerial as central to COP30 efforts.
The session also focused on affordable housing and community resilience. Dr Sunita Purushottam, Managing Director for India at the Global Buildings Performance Network, introduced the Healthy Buildings Guidelines based on work in Gujarat, promoting housing that supports both physical and mental well-being.
Prudence Adjanohoun, Project Officer at Union Sociale pour l’Habitat, discussed France’s social housing model, which supports over 5.9 million units with below-market rents and long-term renovation funding. He emphasized its role in combining social equity with ecological transition.
Maithilee Das Lappin, Senior Consultant at TYLin’s Global Advisory Practice, highlighted water resilience, calling for a “one water” approach and early collaboration among stakeholders to foster lasting, community-based water solutions.
The Buildings and Cooling Pavilion will be located in the Bairro do Mutirão Urbano cluster in the Blue Zone at COP30, alongside thematic hubs for cities, water, and disaster-resilient infrastructure. “It’s a chance for all of us to bring our mandates together, speak with a unified voice, and build something that endures beyond Belém,” said moderator Clément Charnaillat of GlobalABC.
The final webinar of the series is scheduled for 3 November.
