Cooling for All

The report outlines a variety of passive and active cooling strategies for urban environments, ranging from nature-based solutions like tree planting and green roofs to technical interventions such as cool pavements and district cooling systems. It emphasizes the importance of integrated urban planning, the implementation of Heat Action Plans to protect vulnerable populations, and the use of diverse policy incentives and business models to scale these solutions.

• Urban vegetation and green infrastructure can significantly lower city temperatures, with research from the UK Forestry Commission indicating reductions of 2 to 8°C. In the U.S., a combination of planting three shade trees per building and using reflective roofs and pavements could lower cooling demand by up to 20%.
• High-albedo 'cool' roofs and pavements reduce solar absorption and can lower ambient air temperatures. Implementing these globally across all urban areas could create a cooling effect equivalent to avoiding 44 gigatons of CO2 emissions. In Singapore, a high-albedo dark pigmented coating reduced asphalt surface temperatures by up to 17°C.
• District cooling systems, which deliver chilled water from a central plant, are more sustainable than individual building air conditioning, typically requiring 40-50% less energy per refrigeration tonne hour. Dubai has the world's largest network and aims to meet 40% of its cooling demand through this system by 2030.
• Heat Action Plans are critical for protecting vulnerable urban populations, particularly in slums. Ahmedabad, India, implemented a plan featuring an early warning system, community outreach, and healthcare training, which resulted in fewer than 20 heat-related deaths in 2015, despite over 2,500 deaths across India that year.
• Urban form and planning regulations directly impact cooling needs. For example, the Dhaka Metropolitan Building Construction Act of 2008 restricts buildable area and floor area ratios to preserve open space and improve natural ventilation in dense neighborhoods.
• Various policy mechanisms can incentivize urban cooling, including 'density bonuses' in Delhi (1% to 4% extra ground coverage) for green building certification, and 'fast-track permitting' in cities like Seattle, San Francisco, and Chicago.

APA

Sustainable Energy for All (2018). Cooling for All. https://www.seforall.org/system/files/2019-05/CoolingSolutionsforUrbanEnvironments.pdf

Chicago

Sustainable Energy for All. Cooling for All. 2018. https://www.seforall.org/system/files/2019-05/CoolingSolutionsforUrbanEnvironments.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Sustainable Energy for All |title=Cooling for All |date=March 2018 |url=https://www.seforall.org/system/files/2019-05/CoolingSolutionsforUrbanEnvironments.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sustainableenergyforall2018cooling, author = {{Sustainable Energy for All}}, title = {{Cooling for All}}, institution = {Sustainable Energy for All}, year = {2018}, month = mar, url = {https://www.seforall.org/system/files/2019-05/CoolingSolutionsforUrbanEnvironments.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }