The Beating the Heat: A Sustainable Cooling Handbook for Cities is undertaken within the framework of the UNEP Cool Coalition. The objective of the report is to present a comprehensive overview of sustainable urban cooling approaches, incorporating intervention strategies and supporting case studies that can be readily implemented at the city or district level in developed and developing countries. The report is organized into 12 chapters. Chapters 1 through 3 provide the context around the urgent need for sustainable urban cooling, and the key interventions strategies cities can pursue. Chapter 4 includes guidelines for developing a citywide cooling action plan along with a framework for the synergistic implementation of interventions. Chapters 5 through 12 provide a deep dive into each primary intervention area, highlighting opportunities for action, including detailed case studies and examples from cities across the globe.