UNEP and Ramboll partner to tackle the threat of urban heating

Beat the Heat is a joint initiative of the COP30 Presidency and the United Nations Environment Programme’s Cool Coalition. The initiative operationalises the Global Cooling Pledge, the world’s first collective commitment to reduce cooling-related emissions by 68% and expand access to sustainable cooling by 2050, through local delivery.

As part of Beat the Heat, Ramboll announced a new digital tool to enable cities to calculate and address the impacts of flooding and urban heating through nature-based solutions, as well as the effects of the mitigation actions proposed. The tool is unique in its to calculate these impacts simultaneously and significantly faster than with traditional tools currently available. Further, it can be used to analyse both data rich urban areas in cities in Europe and North America, as well as in emerging economies where data about urban areas is sometimes scarce.

“We want to help cities make a convincing business case for climate adaptation, specifically those leaning on nature-based solutions,” explains Christian Nyerup Nielsen, global division director for climate resilience, at Ramboll. “When you show a clear vision for climate adaptation at urban scale, combined with a strong business case, then you have a greater chance of attracting investment into nature-based solutions.”

By enabling real time calculations and impact measurement, the tool will help stakeholders more rapidly gain a picture of the changes they want to see at urban scale, Nielsen explains. “You are literally drawing up the future footprint of a city, with its parks, green streets, cooling solutions, and immediately seeing the effect. In turn, this could help accelerate the investments attracted into the proposed solutions.”

The tool is funded by a grant of DKK 1.18 million by the Ramboll Foundation, the owner of Ramboll. The Ramboll Foundation has previously funded the research behind the tool with DKK 1.7 million in 2022.

"Helping convene partners such as the UN, C40 Cities, and Ramboll to increase our collective impact is immensely meaningful,” says Asbjørn Kristensen Høgsbo, head of philanthropy at the Ramboll Foundation. “This project is a great example of collaboration across research, business, NGOs, cities, and international organisations that will help scale sustainable climate adaptation. The Ramboll Foundation is pleased to engage and support with real positive change on people, nature, and society."

"Beat the Heat brings cooling solutions to where they’re needed most – protecting lives, livelihoods, and the liveability of cities as temperatures rise,” says Lily Riahi, head of Cool Coalition Secretariat, UNEP. “Through practical steps like heat assessments, passive cooling, and sustainable procurement, cities are taking action – and together with partners we’re helping them make it happen.