The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change brought together 235 authors from 58 nations to map out strategies for mitigating the impact of climate change. The buildings section of their report notes that sixty percent of urban surfaces are covered by pavement or rooftops, and that cool roofs can help reduce energy demand, lower temperatures within buildings, improve air quality, and lessen the impact of the urban heat island effect in cities around the world.
Global Cool Cities Alliance
Advancing efforts that build resilience to rising temperatures…cooling the world's cities with solar reflective urban surfaces is an easy, cost-effective step toward cooling the planet.