The European Union joins the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP)

The European Union has formally joined the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP), reinforcing that effective climate policy depends on coordination across national, regional, and local levels.

As climate impacts intensify in cities, bringing local and regional actors into the design and delivery of national resilience and preparedness plans is becoming essential. The EU’s endorsement is intended to speed up implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and, in turn, help reduce emissions.

CHAMP was launched at COP28 in 2023 and it convenes national and subnational governments to co‑create and execute national climate plans, including NDCs. It promotes structured dialogue, consistent policy delivery, and better access to climate finance for subnational authorities, mirroring the Paris Agreement’s emphasis on inclusive cooperation across all tiers of governance. The EU has backed CHAMP’s objectives since its inception; today’s formal endorsement signals confidence in the platform to deepen collaboration among Member States and their cities and regions.

Multilevel governance sits at the heart of the EU’s approach to clean and just transitions. Through longstanding cohesion policy and targeted initiatives, such as the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (with the EU Covenant as its EU pillar), the EU Mission on Climate‑Neutral and Smart Cities, and the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, the EU mobilises thousands of local authorities to turn ambition into action, from accelerating the energy transition to building climate resilience.