COP28 Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) for Climate Action
What is CHAMP?
The Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) for Climate Action was created to enhance cooperation between national and subnational governments in the planning, financing, implementation, and monitoring of climate strategies.
CHAMP was put forth by the COP28 Presidency in Dubai, and was ultimately signed by 72 endorsers.
The CHAMP pledge was led by the COP28 Presidency, with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and a coalition of partners including C40, the Global Covenant of Mayors, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, the NDC Partnership, the University of Maryland, United Cities and Local Governments, Under2 Coalition, WRI – Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, and UN-Habitat.
CHAMP EXPLAINED: Opportunities for Subnational-National Climate Partnerships
Join this webinar on 4 September to understand what the COP28 launched Coalition for High Ambition Multi-level Partnerships (CHAMP) means for cities and regions. The webinar is organised for the LGMA by the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, and C40 Cities, with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies. Speakers will include COP28 representatives, Special Envoy for Cities in CHAMP Gregor Robertson and local government representatives.
Register for 8:00 BST/ 11:00 GST/ 17:00 AEST here
Register for 17:00 BST/ 9:00 PDT/ 12:00 EDT here
What did CHAMP endorsers pledge to do?
As part of the pledge, endorsers committed to take up six actions – in ways determined by their own governments – including: 1) Consult with their respective subnational governments; 2) Work collaboratively with their respective subnational governments to review, design, enhancement, consolidation and implementation of their national commitments and strategies; 3) Create inclusive institutional and informal processes to enable subnational governments to contribute to further enhancing NDCs; 4) Include relevant subnational government projects in climate-related investment priorities; 5) Undertake regular, and inclusive country-led reviews of progress at national and subnational level around the implementation of CHAMP commitments; and 6) Meet with representative subnational leaders and other CHAMP endorsers in the lead up to both COP29 and COP30.
Endorsers are encouraged to cooperate with local and regional governments on their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and Long Term Low-Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS), to maximize climate action.
These commitments come with great urgency. The critically-important next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) drafts are due for submission to the UNFCCC in February 2025 and then final submissions are due by the end of 2025.
Finland joins CHAMP initiative, becoming the 73rd nation to endorse the multilevel climate pledge
Finland has joined COP28’s Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP), showcasing its commitment to strengthening collaboration across all levels of government to deliver effective climate action.
“By joining the CHAMP initiative we want to give our support to the work done at the regional level, both in Finland and globally,” emphasized Kai Mykkänen, Finland’s Minister of Climate and the Environment, who announced the country’s endorsement of CHAMP during Climate Week in New York City.
Spearheaded by Minister Mykkänen and Minna Arve, Mayor of Turku, Finland, and ICLEI First Vice President, the country’s endorsement of CHAMP shows that leaders at every level are working together to solve the climate emergency.
“Cities are on the frontline of the climate work, and I’m really proud that we already have in Finland very strong cooperation between the national government, regions, and cities, and this is a way to make it even more systemic,” said Mayor Arve.
Finland is the first country to join CHAMP in 2024, which brings the total to 73 nations that have officially pledged to the initiative. They all have committed to enhancing cooperation with their local, regional, and other subnational governments in planning, financing, implementing, and monitoring ambitious climate strategies, including their upcoming Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
The LGMA supports the implementation of CHAMP
When CHAMP was announced, the LGMA came out in strong support of the effort and recognized the forward-looking countries who have already pledged to join the Coalition. CHAMP supports decades of climate advocacy by the LGMA Constituency for multilevel climate action, as well as championing the bridging of urban and climate communities, and particularly complements progress at COP26 and COP27. Thus, the LGMA fully supports the basis for CHAMP’s approach – that by engaging local and other subnational governments, national governments can achieve more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 2025.
As part of the ongoing support for the initiative, the LGMA has convened a working group on CHAMP that will help to advance the efforts of endorsers to implement their commitments.
Further support for CHAMP
During June 2024, we saw the release of the Call-to-Action to support national CHAMP implementation, with the Association of German Cities (DST), Brazil’s national association of cities (FNP) and the United States Conference of Mayors as the first responders.
Key resources on the implementation of CHAMP
Partner organizations from the LGMA are offering support to the endorsers of CHAMP and local and other subnational governments with tailored resources.
Delivering CHAMP-Aligned NDC 3.0: Guidance for Endorsers
A high-level guidance brief for delivering enhanced NDCs incorporating strong subnational content and robust consultation with subnational governments – in line with the principles of the CHAMP Pledge.
The CHAMP opportunity: A toolkit for cities, towns, states and regions to take action on climate change
A toolkit for cities, towns, states and regions to take action on climate change.
CHAMP EXPLAINED: Opportunities for Subnational-National Climate Partnerships
This webinar deep dives into what the COP28 launched CHAMP means for cities and regions.
4 Sept 2024
10:00 & 19:00 UTC+2
Online event
CHAMP & Town Hall COPs: Connecting local climate action to national and global goals
The session focused on implementing COP28’s CHAMP initiative for Climate Action and the Town Hall COPs, piloted in 2023 as “local stocktakes.”
31 July 2024
16:00 UTC+2
Online event
5th Monthly LGMA COP29 Webinar – 22 May (10:00 CEST session)
Part of the LGMA monthly webinar series, this session presents the CHAMP initiative and how it can empower subnational voices.
22 May 2024
10:00 UTC+2
Online event
Connecting the dots: Multilevel action from Daring Cities to COP29 and COP30
This session at Daring Cities 2024 aims to address how CHAMP is relevant to the climate emergency and how its implementation is critical as we move toward COP29 and even COP30.
30 April 2024
16:00 UTC+2
Online event
Operationalizing the Ministerial Meeting: Catalyzing urban transformation on the road to COP30
Hosted by ICLEI and UN-Habitat, this session discusses the 2nd Ministerial’s outcomes, where national Ministers, local leaders and other experts, committed to endorsed CHAMP.
6 Dec 2024
14:00 UTC+4
In-person event
From commitment to delivery: Financing multilevel action
Ahead of the second Ministerial Meeting on Urbanization and Climate Change, ICLEI and the GCoM delved into how global climate finance could translate into local climate action, and how CHAMP fits into the picture.
5 Dec 2024
14:30 UTC+4
In-person event
U.S. cities are raising climate ambition through subnational diplomacy
The U.S. Conference of Mayors recently adopted a resolution urging cities to update their climate targets and collaborate with the federal government, following the U.S.’s endorsement of CHAMP at COP28.
Cities can bring CHAMP to life
In response to Bonn Mayor Dörner’s call during the ICLEI World Congress 2024, national associations of local governments in Germany, Brazil, and the U.S. have pledged to CHAMP, pioneering a global movement to push for stronger local involvement in national climate plans.
Call to support multilevel climate action
Mayor Katja Dörner of Bonn, Germany announced a call-to-action inviting subnational leaders to proactively approach their national governments and national associations of local governments for multilevel NDCs by 2025
Cities and regions step up multilevel climate action momentum at SB60
Running alongside the SB60 sessions on 3-5 June, Daring Cities 2024 Bonn Dialogues included a CHAMP endorsers roundtable and the first joint public dialogue between UN High-Level Climate Champions.
CHAMP endorsers strategize together at Daring Cities roundtable
Part of Daring Cities 2024, a dedicated roundtable discussed progress of CHAMP on enhancing cooperation between national and local governments, emphasizing the need to integrate local efforts into national plans and the NDCs.
Multilevel action and urbanization: Safeguarding the delivery of multilateral environmental agreements
This ICLEI’s UNEA-6 side event discussed the implementation of CHAMP and the key role of subnational governments for all national and global goals.
Local action for global goals: An opportunity for enhancing NDCs
An analysis into the CHAMP-endorsing countries revealed that 2/3 of countries display low or moderate urban content in their NDCs. This leaves room to integrate more urban priorities in the next NDC revision cycle in 2025 at COP30 in Belém in Brazil.
CHAMP: Catalyzing global climate goals through national and subnational cooperation
This blog explains how CHAMP aims to bridge the gap between local and national climate efforts to meet the Paris Agreement targets, highlighting the involvement of various climate organizations.
Contact us
For any question or information, contact us at champ@gcomprojectsupport.org
