THE United Nations is looking to work with countries, including Singapore, to chart out a strategy to protect people from extreme heat, one of the deadliest and fastest-growing climate risks worldwide.
This strategy – called the Global Heat Resilience Roadmap – will also set out practical approaches to safeguard water and food security, schools, hospitals, workplaces and energy infrastructure during heatwaves.
This was announced by the UN yesterday at a forum held in Singapore.
The UN Environment Programme (Unep) had convened over 60 countries at the inaugural Global Cooling Pledge Assembly to develop ways to cut carbon emissions from air-conditioning.
Expanding access to alternative cooling strategies that do not guzzle much electricity, especially for vulnerable groups like farmers, was also discussed.
Examples of such passive cooling efforts can include developing building designs to maximise natural ventilation, planting trees for shade, and optimising wind flow when building new estates.
Part of the strategy is also to ensure that cooling solutions do not inadvertently lead to a rise in greenhouse gas emissions due to excessive reliance on air-conditioning. Cooling already accounts for about 20% of global electricity use, and demand is expected to more than triple by 2050.
The aim is to cut emissions from cooling by 68% by 2050, a target set by Unep and the signatory countries in 2023 when the Global Cooling Pledge was introduced.
The signatory countries, which include Singapore, are collectively called the Intergovernmental Committee on Cooling, which comprises more than 70 nations including Nigeria, the Philippines and the United Kingdom.
The launch of this initiative comes as the ongoing warming El Nino phenomenon is set to intensify into a very strong event in the coming months, with higher risks of drought and extreme heat.
The forum, which started on Tuesday, saw policymakers, academics and businesses exploring how sustainable cooling and heat-resilience solutions can work in dense cities through roundtables, training and site visits.
Briefly introducing the plans for the roadmap on Tuesday, Unep’s global chief heat officer Eleni Myrivili said countries first need the political mandate to recognise severe heat as a disaster and have policies in place to make the country more heat resilient.
Countries then have to think about the greatest risks that severe heat can pose to them, as well as solutions.
Myrivili also urged delegates to think about the most suitable ways to finance these solutions for their countries. Unlocking finance for cooling is a key theme at the assembly, and some solutions floated include mobilising finance from governments and philanthropic partners.
To ensure the road map is eventually implemented well, processes should be in place to track outcomes and progress, said Myrivili.
More details about building up the strategy will be revealed today, and participating countries – which have not been confirmed – have a couple of years to develop it, said Unep.
The strategy will also build on existing national plans.
For example, Singapore recently set up a Heat Resilience Policy Office to oversee heat management efforts across the country by coordinating action, overseeing research and representing Singapore internationally.
It had also earlier announced a response plan to heatwaves, where Singapore will open more than 300 cooling centres during such episodes.
The centres will be air-conditioned and include community centres, selected residents’ committees or residents’ network centres, and some indoor sports halls.
With policies such as imposing minimum energy performance standards on air-conditioners sold here, the average energy efficiency of air-conditioners in Singapore has improved by more than 60%, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu yesterday.
Yesterday, Singapore also received the inaugural Cool Leaders award from Unep, in recognition for its leadership in heat resilience and passive cooling.
This award serves to highlight outstanding leadership in advancing sustainable cooling across policy and innovation.
Receiving the award, Fu said: “It is not just about cooling the place, but to cool it in a sustainable way, in a way that is comfortable for our people, but also in a way that’s resilient for our businesses.” — The Straits Times/ANN
