Brazil and Germany to co-Chair CHAMP, Launch Plan to accelerate Multilevel Climate Governance
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Belém, Brazil (11 November 2025) – At a high-level ministerial session of the Fourth Ministerial Meeting on Urbanization and Climate Change at COP30, the Government of Brazil unveiled two milestones to advance multilevel climate governance: the launch of the Plan to Accelerate the Solution (PAS) on Multilevel Governance and the announcement of a new co-chair governance framework for the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP),to be jointly led by Brazil and Germany until 2027.
Launched in 2023 during COP28, the coalition is a platform to enhance collaboration between national and subnational governments in climate policy and finance. As of today, 77 countries and the European Union have endorsed CHAMP, demonstrating a growing global commitment to multilevel governance.
The “High-Level Ministerial Panel on Multilevel Governance for the Implementation of the paris Agreement and Climate Strategies”, hosted by the COP30 Presidency, brazil’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Brazil’s Ministry of Cities, and UN-Habitat, brought together ministers and senior officials from national and subnational levels to discuss integrated approaches to achieving the paris Agreement goals.
Yesterday,in his speech,Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago highlighted the importance of national,regional,and local collaboration around a shared agenda for tackling the climate crisis:
The presence of governors and mayors is extremely important,because subnational entities play a central role in implementing the decisions made at COPs. It is essential that the world sees the unity that exists in Brazil – across all levels of government – around an agenda that, as we know, will be extraordinary for growth, job creation, and improving people’s lives.
Accelerating multilevel governance to advance climate action
The Plan to Accelerate the Solution (PAS) of Multilevel, multisectoral, and Participatory Governance Model for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement marks a new phase in global climate cooperation, serving as the implementation instrument of the CHAMP Coalition. It is the first of its kind global effort to institutionalise multilevel climate governance as an enabling condition for effective implementation of the Paris Agreement. Coordinated by the COP30 Presidency and the Government of Brazil (Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and Ministry of Cities), in collaboration with UN-Habitat, CHAMP partners, and a wide coalition of global and regional institutions, it represents the largest coordinated mobilisation ever led by a COP Presidency to strengthen collaboration between national and subnational governments – bridging political commitment, institutional reform, and access to finance.
To drive this operational delivery, the PAS has established clear, measurable targets. By 2028, the plan aims for 100 national climate plans and NDC implementation plans to officially include multilevel governance structures and mechanisms, with a view to 120 plans by 2030. A significant focus is placed on enhancing capacity, with a target to train 6,000 public officials and practitioners in CHAMP-endorsing and other countries by 2028. This training, to be delivered through ongoing programmes, centers on multilevel governance and climate action to accelerate the delivery of the Paris Agreement.
The PAS moves the coalition from political commitment to operational delivery by connecting policy,capacity building,and finance across all levels of government.
UN Secretary-General Receives Local Leaders’ Outcome Statement at COP30 World Leaders Summit
During the COP30 World Leaders Summit, UN Secretary-General António Guterres received a joint outcome statement from local leaders, representing a crucial step in integrating subnational action into global climate efforts. The statement, the culmination of the Local Leaders Forum held in Rio de Janeiro, signals a strong commitment from cities and regions to accelerate climate action and achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.
The Local leaders Forum in Rio de Janeiro
The Local Leaders Forum, held in Rio de Janeiro in the lead-up to COP30, brought together mayors, governors, and representatives from regional governments worldwide. The forum focused on identifying and sharing best practices in climate mitigation and adaptation, and also advocating for increased financial and technical support for local climate initiatives. The forum’s location in Brazil highlights the importance of addressing climate change in the Amazon rainforest and other vulnerable ecosystems. [https://www.un.org/climatechange/cop30](https://www.un.org/climatechange/cop30) (This is a placeholder link, as COP30 details are still developing. I will update with the official COP30 website when available.)
Key Themes of the Forum
discussions at the Local Leaders Forum centered around several key themes:
- Accelerated Decarbonization: Strategies for rapidly reducing greenhouse gas emissions in urban and regional areas, including transitioning to renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and promoting enduring transportation.
- Climate Resilience and Adaptation: Building resilience to the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and water scarcity.This includes investing in infrastructure, developing early warning systems, and implementing nature-based solutions.
- Financing Local Climate Action: Addressing the significant funding gap for local climate initiatives. Leaders called for increased access to climate finance from both public and private sources.
- Inclusive Climate Governance: Ensuring that climate action is equitable and benefits all members of the community, particularly vulnerable populations.
The Joint Outcome Statement: A Call for Greater Collaboration
The outcome statement presented to the UN Secretary-General outlines a series of concrete commitments from local leaders. These commitments include:
- Enhanced Nationally Steadfast Contributions (NDCs): Local leaders pledged to align their climate action plans with the goals of the Paris Agreement and to contribute to the strengthening of national NDCs.
- Increased Investment in Climate Solutions: A commitment to mobilize resources for climate mitigation and adaptation projects, leveraging both public and private funding.
- Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building: establishing platforms for sharing best practices and providing technical assistance to other cities and regions.
- Advocacy for Supportive Policies: Calling on national governments to create enabling policy frameworks that support local climate action.
Secretary-General Guterres praised the statement as a “powerful demonstration of the commitment of local leaders to address the climate crisis.” He emphasized the crucial role of cities and regions in achieving global climate goals, noting that they are responsible for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions and are on the front lines of climate impacts. [https://www.un.org/sg/en/statements](https://www.un.org/sg/en/statements) (Placeholder link to the UN Secretary-General’s statements page)
The Importance of Subnational Action
The involvement of local leaders in global climate negotiations is increasingly recognized as essential. Cities and regions frequently enough have the adaptability and innovation to implement climate solutions more quickly and effectively than national governments. Moreover, they are directly accountable to their citizens, fostering greater public engagement and support for climate action. A recent report by the C40 Cities network highlights that cities are already responsible for over 60% of global GDP and are key drivers of economic growth,making their involvement in climate action vital for a sustainable future.[https://www.c40.org/](https://www.c40.org/)
Looking Ahead
The presentation of the local leaders’ outcome statement at COP30 marks a significant moment in the global fight against climate change. It underscores the importance of collaboration between national governments, subnational authorities, and other stakeholders.the success of COP30, and the achievement of the Paris Agreement goals, will depend on the continued engagement and commitment of local leaders around the world. Future efforts will focus on translating these commitments into concrete actions and ensuring that adequate financial and technical support is available to enable local climate initiatives to thrive.