Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Mumbai have joined a global coalition of 33 cities to be part of a Cool Cities Accelerator programme that is committed to address the problem of extreme heat and record-breaking temperatures, one of the most serious impacts of the climate crisis.

Launched by C40 Cities, a network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities, with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, the Cool Cities Accelerator is expected to help urban leaders protect residents, safeguard economies, and redesign cities for a hotter future. The initiative brings together 33 founding cities representing over 145 million people from every region of the world, including Austin, Boston, Buenos Aires, Freetown, London, Nairobi, Phoenix, Paris, Singapore and others, all committed to protect residents and transform urban spaces for a hotter future by 2030.

The participating cities will collaborate, share best practices, and issue progress reports on protecting residents by establishing clear heat leadership, strengthening early warning systems, and ensuring access to cooling during emergencies within two years. They will strive to transform these cities for the future by improving building standards, expanding urban tree cover and shade, and future-proofing critical infrastructure within five years.

“Extreme heat is a silent killer and an increasingly urgent global threat,” said Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities. “The number of days that major capitals experience temperatures above 35°C has increased 54% over the past twenty years. Cities are showing real leadership by taking practical steps to protect communities, safeguard economies, and create more liveable urban environments. By aligning with the UN Secretary-General’s call to action on extreme heat, these cities are helping to set a global standard for what bold, collective climate leadership looks like.”

Extreme heat is already the deadliest weather-related hazard worldwide, responsible for nearly half a million deaths each year. Without decisive action, the number of people exposed to life-threatening urban heat is projected to increase fivefold by 2050.

“Extreme heat is no longer a distant threat—it’s a daily reality affecting the lives and livelihoods of millions around the world,” said Elizabeth Yee, Executive Vice President of The Rockefeller Foundation. “Through the Cool Cities Accelerator, we’re proud to support mayors who are investing in bold, science-based solutions to future-proof health systems, ensuring they can withstand 21st century challenges. Local leaders are not just responding to the climate crisis today—they’re redesigning urban life to protect people, strengthen economies, and build a cooler, safer future for all.”

 The Accelerator will also receive implementation support from ClimateWorks Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Z Zurich Foundation and Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.