Cool Leaders Award 2026: Singapore, UAE and Dong Mingzhu Recognised

The very first Cool Leaders Awards were made at the Global Cooling Pledge Assembly 2026 that was held in Singapore. The Cool Leader awards were established by the Cool Coalition, led by the UNEP to recognize those who are making efforts in sustainable cooling and protecting people from heatwaves. This year’s first recipients of this award are Singapore, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Dong Mingzhu, the chairperson of Gree Electric Appliances. Global Cooling Pledge Assembly took place in Singapore from 15 to 18 September 2026.

First Cool Leaders and Their Role

The first three Cool Leaders show different approaches in sustainable cooling.

Singapore was selected for its overall heat-resilient and sustainable cooling practices in a crowded tropical urban environment.

The UAE was selected for its district cooling practices and connection of cooling with international climate and development policy.

Chairman of the Gree Electric Appliances Company Dong Mingzhu was selected for her leadership in ultra-efficient and low-carbon cooling technologies, such as Zero Carbon Source air conditioning.

The Cool Leaders’ term lasts one year, during which they use their experience and recognition to promote sustainable cooling technologies.

UNEP Cool Coalition: What It Is

The UNEP Cool Coalition is an international multi-stakeholder network committed to the promotion of sustainable cooling.

This Coalition was established in 2019 as one of the flagships of the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit. More than 250 stakeholders such as governments, corporations, cities, and financial organizations comprise the coalition.

The UNEP Cool Coalition works on systemic changes aimed at increasing access to sustainable cooling and at the same time enhancing energy efficiency and reducing climate change.

Global Cooling Pledge and Sustainable Cooling

The Global Cooling Pledge was created during COP28 in 2023 by the UAE Presidency and the Cool Coalition of the UNEP.

It is the first globally shared pledge that is specifically targeting reducing climate impacts caused by cooling and providing people with sustainable cooling.

The key goals of the Global Cooling Pledge are,

• To reduce the emissions associated with cooling activities by 68% by 2050.
• To increase the number of people who have access to sustainable cooling by 2030.
• To boost the energy efficiency of air conditioning units by 50% compared to 2022 figures for 2030.

They have become highly relevant due to increased need for cooling related to urbanization, warming trends, and high heat exposures worldwide.