High-Level Champions

The 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) brought together businesses, private finance and subnational actors from around the world, marking significant progress in the collective effort to combat climate change. COP29 also saw steps forward for climate finance, the operationalization of carbon markets, as well as progress on the Mitigation Work Program and the global goal on adaptation.

Women are at the forefront of tackling the climate crisis, bringing unique perspectives to drive equity and resilience. This feature highlights eight inspiring leaders proving that inclusive climate action is essential in our race to a better world.

Week one of COP29 saw continued climate action and leadership from businesses, investors, cities, states, regions and civil society. As the daily Top of the COP newsletter demonstrates, progress and momentum continues to build across sectors and geographies, with non-State actors calling for high ambition COP outcomes, including a fair climate finance deal and strong […]

Cities, Indigenous groups, businesses, and organizations across regions are advancing inclusive, nature-positive climate solutions to help make a net-zero future achievable by 2050, according to a new report by the Marrakech Partnership, UN Climate Change and the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions.

The Food Systems Call to Action aims to accelerate action to transform food systems to deliver for people, nature, and climate. We are calling on all Non-State Actors and governments to take urgent action to transform food systems to deliver for people, nature, and climate by 2030.

H.E. Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, will be attending COP16  to showcase the vital role actors in the real economy are playing to advance practical solutions to protect biodiversity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and safeguard lives and livelihoods. Building on COP15 when countries agreed to reverse the global […]

From over $100 billion annually from the world’s largest utilities companies for grid upgrades, to reports that net zero commitments among major companies have increased 20% in 18 months, and Race to Zero Partner members are leading the way on robustness, Climate Week New York City 2024 showed that businesses, investors, cities, regions and civil society continue to mobilize credible climate action.

The UN Climate Change High-Level Champions dispatch today the support of CEOs, mayors, governors, and civil society and Indigenous Peoples leaders for ambitious, investable and implementable Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs),  Real economy actors and civil society leaders emphasise the importance of these plans to signal a clear direction of travel, attract investment, and spark faster […]

The COP29 Champion’s campaign, Impact Makers, will spotlight and scale innovative climate action from diverse leaders and innovators from across the world.

Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) announces its acceptance into the Race to Zero campaign, establishing itself as one of the pioneering African organizations to receive this prestigious recognition.

On International Youth Day 2024 meet the Climate Champions Youth Fellows driving change across the globe. These inspiring young professionals are leading the charge in climate diplomacy, working alongside UN Climate Change High-Level Champions for COP28 and COP29.

In the six months since a global pledge to transition away from fossil fuels was made in the UAE, the devastating reality of climate change has continued to hit hard across the globe.  From ferocious heat across Asia to fatal floods in Kenya, Brazil and Afghanistan, people  around the world are paying with their lives, […]

Beginning of the end of the Fossil Fuel era In the COP28 outcome governments explicitly stated that we must transition away from fossil fuels in a just and equitable manner. It also underscored the importance of the global goal on adaptation in strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change, as well as the vital […]

The UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP29, Nigar Arpadarai attended the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial on 21 and 22 March to inform how the real economy is driving significant global climate action and can support national governments in developing enhanced national climate action plans – known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – ahead of COP30.

H.E. Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, welcomes the new Champion for COP29, H.E. Ms. Nigar Arpadarai, from Azerbaijan. COP29, the UN Climate Change Summit in 2024, will take place in Baku this November.

A just 1.5°C transition away from fossil fuels, climate finance and nature at the heart of first Global Stocktake outcome alongside Global Goal on Adaptation and Loss and Damage Fund. The COP28 outcome made it clearer than ever that we must transition away from fossil fuels in a just and equitable manner. It also underscored […]

A fair future demands not only financial commitments but also strategic and inclusive approaches that consider the needs of the present and future alike, argues Karishma Ansaram, Climate Champions’ Finance Youth Fellow.

The UN Climate Change High-Level Champions recognized the commitment, collaboration and concrete climate action of business, investors, cities and regions, and civil society, including local communities and Indigenous Peoples, at their closing Global Climate Action High-Level Event at COP28 – Uniting on the Pathway to 2030 and Beyond.

To support the first Global Stocktake, the High Level Champions and the Marrakech Partnership have compiled a set of solutions framed in specific actions that need to be scaled up and replicated to catalyze our race to a net zero emissions and resilient world.

A fair future demands not only financial commitments but also strategic and inclusive approaches that consider the needs of the present and future alike, argues Karishma Ansaram, Climate Champions’ Finance Youth Fellow.

At COP28, business communities will explore opportunities to accelerate adaptation action which will inform a Discussion Paper, set to launch after COP28.