On 14 October 2025, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Cool Coalition hosted its second Membership Coordination Call of the year to align priorities and strengthen collaboration across governments, businesses, cities, and financial institutions in the lead-up to COP30 in Belém. The virtual event focused on accelerating sustainable cooling solutions and highlighted the Coalition’s role in delivering local implementation of global climate goals.
Moderated by Andrea Voigt, Vice President of Group Climate Solutions at Danfoss, and Graeme Maidment, Director of Net Zero at the UK Department for Energy Security and Net-Zero, the call emphasized delivery and visibility. Lily Riahi, Head of the Cool Coalition Secretariat, underlined the importance of sustainable cooling as a key pillar of climate resilience and noted the Coalition’s work to integrate cooling into national and local climate strategies through initiatives like the Global Cooling Pledge and the Beat the Heat Implementation Drive.
Speakers from the Cool Coalition Executive Steering Committee outlined national efforts. Maidment shared the UK’s upcoming passive cooling framework and heat resilience plans, while Voigt highlighted private sector contributions, including cold chain innovation and engagement in the COP30 Buildings and Cooling Pavilion.
Dr. Eleni Myrivili introduced the Beat the Heat Implementation Drive, developed with the COP30 Presidency, to support cities in addressing extreme heat using assessments, passive cooling, and sustainable building codes. Dr. Omar Abdelaziz previewed the Global Cooling Watch 2025 report, featuring the Sustainable Cooling Hierarchy and Tiered Access Framework to guide equitable cooling access.
National initiatives featured efforts from Viet Nam and India. Dr. Nguyen Dang Thu Cuc presented Urban Cooling Action Plans piloted in Can Tho and Tam Ky, while Anant Shukla showcased the UK–Haryana Centre of Excellence on sustainable cold chains. A new Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between UNEP and the Haryana Department of Horticulture to co-develop the state’s first cold chain policy.
Ben Hartley from Sustainable Energy for All emphasized equity-focused cooling solutions, highlighting data from the 2025 Chilling Prospects report. Further tools were presented by UNEP experts, including upcoming Global Guidelines for Passive Cooling and an Online Policy Toolkit for Sustainable Cooling, as well as minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and procurement guidelines.
Denise San Valentin from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition highlighted refrigerant lifecycle management strategies co-led with Japan and the Maldives. Saima Zuberi from the IFC discussed financing pathways, noting a $2.1 billion opportunity in sustainable cold chains in Kenya.
Strategic communications for COP30 were detailed by Marisofi Giannouli, including key moments such as the launch of the Global Cooling Watch 2025, the Beat the Heat drive, and the second Global Cooling Pledge Ministerial. Dimitris Karamitsos from BASE introduced the District Cooling Working Group and its planned guidance and case study compendium.
In closing, moderators Voigt and Maidment, joined by Riahi, reiterated the importance of collaboration and coordination to drive implementation and visibility ahead of COP30.
