What is CHAMP?

CHAMP – the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships – was launched by the COP28 Presidency in Dubai to accelerate climate action globally by supporting initiatives at the subnational level. The overall objectives of CHAMP are to limit global temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and increase climate adaptation and resilience by supporting climate action at the local level. To date, 75 national governments have joined CHAMP, committing to working with their subnational governments (cities, towns, states and regions) when developing and implementing climate strategies nationally. Specifically, these countries have committed to consulting and collaborating with their subnational governments when preparing their next round of climate pledges (Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs), due at COP30 in 2025.

The CHAMP Pledge at a glance

Consult

Consult with subnational governments to determine how they can contribute to national climate mitigation and adaptation goals.

Collaborate

Collaborate with subnational governments to realize local mitigation and adaptation opportunities, involving them in the review, design, enhancement, consolidation, and implementation of national commitments and strategies.

NDC 2025

Establish inclusive processes to enable subnational governments to enhance NDCs ahead of COP30, integrating local baseline data, targets, and actions for mitigation and adaptation across all sectors.

NDC Investment

Include subnational government projects in climate investment priorities to secure resources from public and private financial institutions. Support project preparation, pipeline development, project aggregation, new financial instruments, and policy reform at all levels to enhance implementation.

Voluntary Review

Conduct regular, inclusive country-led reviews of CHAMP commitments at national and subnational levels. Utilize existing processes, such as the Voluntary National Review of the 2030 Agenda, to ensure national policies support and accelerate ambitious multilevel climate action.

High Level Dialogue

Engage with subnational leaders at a global High-Level Political Dialogue on Multilevel Climate Action before COP29 and COP30. Share best practices and lessons from CHAMP commitments, contributing to the Ministerial Meeting on Urbanization and Climate Change.

Read the full CHAMP Pledge

Why is CHAMP so important?

CHAMP is an opportunity for domestic dialogues on how subnational governments can contribute to national climate strategies and action, and achieve more policy coherence and better outcomes.
These dialogues are an opportunity to advocate for projects at the city, town, regional or state levels that can be implemented, accelerated or scaled with the appropriate support from the national government. In short, including local action plans can help accelerate national ambitions.
Identifying subnational actions as part of the NDC will also help prioritise them for investment and implementation support from financial institutions and development banks so that cities and regions can have improved access to financial and technical resources dedicated to climate action.
As a result, new and revised NDCs submitted by CHAMP endorsing countries should include: Specific urban sections, urban areas are identified as priority sectors, identified urban priorities are matched to an action. And subnational governments in CHAMP countries by 2025 should be able to progress, finance and deliver a greater number of more ambitious inclusive climate actions.
The CHAMP process reinforces the legitimacy of local climate action whilst building trust and accountability between levels of governments as well as knowledge and best practice sharing.

Cities are on the front lines of our rapidly changing climate and first-hand witnesses to its devastating impacts. Faced with this growing urgency, cities are also where some of the biggest opportunities are to fill this gap for climate action, developing innovative and pragmatic solutions to reduce emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change. For this reason, it is essential for cities to play a major role in the global fight against climate change and for national governments to collaborate with local leaders, empower their efforts, and provide funding for their initiatives.

GCoM projects that actions by cities in CHAMP endorsing countries have the potential to deliver at least 10% of the emission reductions needed by 2030 to stay on track with 1.5C

Need guidance or support in implementing CHAMP?

CHAMP Resources for national governments CHAMP Resources for cities and regions

CHAMP Signatories

What is CHAMP?

The CHAMP Pledge at a glance

Why is CHAMP so important?

Need guidance or support in implementing CHAMP?

CHAMP EXPLAINED: Opportunities for Subnational-National Climate Partnerships

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