UNEP recognises UAE among sustainable ‘Cool Leaders’
The UAE has been named an inaugural ‘Cool Leader’ by the United Nations Environment Programme for its national progress on district cooling, energy efficiency and heat resilience.
UAE cited for practical leadership in sustainable cooling
The United Arab Emirates was announced as one of the inaugural ‘Cool Leaders’ at the Global Cooling Pledge Assembly 2026 in Singapore, organised by the United Nations Environment Programme and the Cool Coalition. The recognition highlights the UAE’s experience in district cooling and its efforts to embed cooling within climate and development policy.
The award was received on behalf of Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, by Eng. Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. Officials told the assembly that in one of the world’s hottest climates, cooling can account for the majority of peak electricity demand during the summer, making efficiency and resilient infrastructure a national priority.
UAE representatives emphasised that delivering sustainable cooling at scale extends beyond technology. They said effective regulation, long-term planning, investment and partnerships are also essential to reduce energy use, cut emissions and bolster resilience. The country’s early adoption and expansion of district cooling was cited as a principal example: such systems can provide the same comfort levels with markedly lower energy consumption than conventional air-conditioning.
The UAE delegation underscored its role in placing sustainable cooling on the international agenda during COP28, hosted in Dubai in 2023, where it worked with the UNEP-led Cool Coalition to develop the Global Cooling Pledge. As Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Committee on Cooling (IGCC), the UAE continues to back international cooperation aimed at turning commitments into implementation, finance and practical solutions.
At the Singapore Assembly, the UAE also highlighted the Global Energy Efficiency Alliance (GEEA), a UAE-led implementation platform intended to link country energy-efficiency and sustainable cooling needs with technology, expertise and finance. Officials described GEEA as a mechanism to help translate the Global Cooling Pledge into large-scale deployment.
Delegates pointed to several priority areas for accelerated action, including passive cooling measures, energy-efficient cooling systems, renewable-powered cooling and the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons. The UAE’s approach combines national policy measures with industry and finance partnerships to encourage innovation and diffusion of low-carbon cooling solutions.
By sharing operational experience from a high-demand climate, the UAE aims to support other countries in reducing the climate and grid impacts of cooling while expanding access to sustainable cooling solutions. The UNEP recognition positions the UAE among a small group of countries the Cool Coalition regards as leaders in translating pledge commitments into practical action.
Source: WAM