COOL CITIES ACCELERATOR

NEWS

• Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai have joined a global coalition of 33 cities to tackle rising urban temperatures.
• The initiative, named the Cool Cities Accelerator, was announced at the C40 World Mayors Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
• These cities will redesign urban spaces and protect citizens from the impacts of extreme heat.

HIGHLIGHTS

About the Cool Cities Accelerator

• The programme brings together 33 founding cities representing 145 million people worldwide.
• Global members include Austin, Boston, Buenos Aires, Freetown, London, Nairobi, Phoenix, Paris, and Singapore.
• The goal: to safeguard residents and transform cities for a hotter climate by 2030.

Supporting Organisations

• The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group established the Accelerator.
• Major support comes from:
  • The Rockefeller Foundation
  • ClimateWorks Foundation
  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  • Z Zurich Foundation
  • Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 Why It Matters

• Extreme heat is now the deadliest weather-related hazard, causing nearly 500,000 deaths annually.
• Without action, urban heat exposure could increase fivefold by 2050.
• Most deaths are preventable through better cooling access, health interventions, and resilient infrastructure.

Key Actions and Targets

• Short-term (2 years):
  • Establish heat leadership in cities.
  • Strengthen early warning systems.
  • Ensure emergency cooling access for vulnerable populations.
• Long-term (5 years):
  • Redesign cities through improved building standards.
  • Expand urban tree cover and shaded spaces.
  • Future-proof critical infrastructure against rising temperatures.

Financial Support

• The Rockefeller Foundation has committed $1 million to:
  • Develop heat adaptation targets.
  • Provide technical assistance for implementing cooling solutions.