Enviro News Asia, Belém — The COP30 Presidency and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have officially launched the implementation phase of the Global Mutirão Against Extreme Heat / Beat the Heat initiative on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, during the UN Climate Change Conference in Belém.
The initiative aims to accelerate sustainable cooling and heat-resilience solutions in cities worldwide, turning the commitments of the Global Cooling Pledge into tangible action. So far, 185 cities have joined the campaign, and 72 nations have endorsed the pledge to reduce cooling-related emissions by 68% by 2050.
COP30 CEO Ana Toni emphasized that the initiative provides a clear and relatable way for people to understand the impact of climate action.
“People understand heat because they feel it in their bodies. The initiative connects with people, and they can only continue supporting multilateral climate agreements if they truly understand. And people are feeling the heat everywhere,” she said.
Toni highlighted that the Mutirão represents a global collaboration model, combining capacity building, local government leadership, private sector participation, and technological innovation.
“If we truly succeed in expanding this Mutirão, we will see many more cities join Beat the Heat by the end of COP30,” she added.
A new UNEP report launched alongside the initiative projects that global cooling demand will triple by 2050, increasing strain on energy systems and worsening climate impacts. However, adopting sustainable cooling solutions could cut cooling-related emissions by 64%, protect three billion people from extreme heat, and save up to USD 43 trillion in energy and infrastructure costs.
Brazil’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, pointed out that nearly 20 million students in Brazil attend schools without adequate cooling systems. She underlined the need to address extreme heat through three interconnected agendas: mitigation, adaptation, and transformation.
“Mitigation tackles the root causes, adaptation ensures we respond sustainably to current impacts, and transformation builds long-term structural solutions,” she said.
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen stressed that cooling must be recognized as essential infrastructure to safeguard health and productivity.
“Extreme heat already causes around half a million deaths annually. Access to sustainable cooling saves lives and keeps economies, schools, and hospitals running,” she noted.
City representatives from around the world echoed the urgency of action. Somalia’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Bashir Mohamed Jama, warned that urban expansion worsens the risks of displacement and informal housing, while Evandro Leitão, Mayor of Fortaleza, Brazil, emphasized that climate justice and social justice must go hand in hand.
“Addressing the climate crisis also means advancing social justice through actions in health, education, and infrastructure,” he said.
The Global Mutirão Against Extreme Heat / Beat the Heat initiative stands as one of COP30’s most significant collaborative efforts, reflecting a growing commitment to protect urban populations from escalating climate impacts. (*)
