Governments and industry representatives announced new cooling measures in Singapore on 17 September during the Global Cooling Pledge Assembly. The package includes work on a heat resilience roadmap, a manufacturing platform and a challenge focused on nature. Brazil, Cambodia and Côte d'Ivoire have joined the nature initiative. It will support promising projects involving urban forests, parks and green roofs. These measures address a difficult balance: protecting people from heat without sharply increasing energy use and climate pollution.
The voluntary manufacturing platform connects governments with producers to expand efficient equipment and refrigerants with a lower warming impact. Participants are expected to make measurable commitments and report progress transparently. Meanwhile, governments are still shaping the roadmap for protecting essential services, including schools, hospitals and workplaces. This means the announcement concerns tools and cooperation, rather than completed protection everywhere. Combining natural shade with better technology also broadens the discussion beyond buying more air conditioners, making urban design part of the response.