tree dayEnvironment news · Development: 17 Sep 2026
Singapore cooling assembly announces new measures to tackle rising heat
The Global Cooling Pledge Assembly in Singapore announced a nature-based cooling challenge, work on a heat resilience roadmap and a voluntary platform for cooling manufacturers.
Singapore
Governments and partners announced new cooling and heat resilience measures at the Global Cooling Pledge Assembly in Singapore on 17 September, UNEP reported. The package included a nature-based cooling challenge, work on a global heat resilience roadmap and a voluntary platform bringing governments and manufacturers together. [1]
Nature enters the cooling programme
Brazil, Cambodia and Côte d’Ivoire joined the Nature for Cooling Challenge, intended to support approaches including urban forests, parks and green roofs. Governments also began shaping a roadmap to protect people and essential services from extreme heat. [1]
Trees and vegetation can provide shade and cooling through evapotranspiration, the EPA explains. [2] That offers a connection between urban nature and heat resilience, though the effects depend on the place and design. A challenge supporting projects creates an opportunity to examine those local choices rather than assume that one approach fits every city.
Equipment and planning develop together
The assembly introduced a Manufacturing Platform for efficient cooling equipment and lower global-warming-potential refrigerants. It also held the first meeting of an intergovernmental committee to coordinate and track the cooling pledge. [1]
The measures address several parts of the same problem: how to reduce exposure to heat while managing the demand for cooling. Equipment commitments, urban projects and public-service planning will develop on different timescales. Publication of the roadmap and participants’ reported progress should make those separate strands easier to follow.
Follow the evidence
Primary reporting and background sources. Event dates and publication dates are shown separately above.
- UN Environment Programme: Cool Leaders, a roadmap and nature for cooling: Global Cooling Pledge acts on heat ↗
- US EPA: Using trees and vegetation to reduce heat islands ↗
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