Beat the heat: Local and Regional Action for a resilient planet
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Description
UNEA-7 OFFICIAL SIDE EVENT
Beat the heat: Local and Regional Action for a resilient planet
| The World Meteorological Organization confirmed 2024 as the warmest year on record at about 1.55°C above pre-industrial level. This follows the trend of previous years, which have all been in the top ten of the warmest. Our planet is becoming hotter and more dangerous for everyone, everywhere.
At the beginning of 2025, extreme heat already affected many parts of the world, with temperatures exceeding 45°C in cities in Brazil, India and elsewhere. Heatwaves are on the rise globally, getting hotter and longer due to climate change. “Cities are heating up at twice the global average rate due to rapid urbanization and the urban heat island effect … [they] are bearing the brunt, as congestion, the built environment and concentrated energy use trap and amplify temperatures” acknowledged the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres in his Call to Action on extreme heat last year.
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Date: 8 December 2025
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This event directly aligns with the UNEA-7 theme: “Advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet.” While cooling has become essential for urban adaptation, the integration of LRGs into international governance and implementation mechanisms remains limited. This session will bridge that gap, showcasing how local actors are already delivering solutions on the ground and why they must be fully included in UNEA-led processes.
Objectives
- Showcase innovative practices and solutions already being implemented;
- Bridge the gap between national frameworks and local delivery mechanisms;
- Call for cooling and sustainable buildings to become a recurring UNEA topic;
- Encourage a formal consultation mechanism for LRGs in UNEP processes;
- Elevate the role of LRGs in climate adaptation through cooling/building solutions.
Speakers
TBC