Copenhagen Climate Ministerial fosters multilevel climate collaboration at historic meeting with subnational leaders towards COP30

At the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial, national and subnational leaders gathered for the first time to explore innovative approaches to climate action. Among them was Ana Toni, CEO of COP30, who emphasized the critical role of the CHAMP Coalition in driving impactful urban climate initiatives through strengthened multilevel cooperation.

A key feature of the Ministerial was the roundtable titled “The CHAMP Opportunity: Roundtable on Multilevel Climate Action”. The session showcased how integrating cities and regions into national climate planning can improve policy outcomes, accelerate the net-zero transition, and support sustainable economic growth.

Ana Toni highlighted Brazil’s leadership in local climate action through its newly launched Green and Resilient Model Cities program. Other notable examples included Colombia’s participatory Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) process and Kenya’s Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLOCA) project, aligned with its recently updated NDC emphasizing multilevel governance.

“States and municipalities are on the frontlines of implementation,” said Toni. “They provide essential services, manage infrastructure, and engage directly with communities. Responding to the COP30 Presidency’s call for a Global Mutirão, a Brazilian term meaning collective action, subnational governments are key actors in both mitigation and adaptation efforts. Only through integrated efforts can we address the climate crisis and safeguard future generations.”

The meeting was convened by the Government of Denmark, in partnership with the COP Presidencies of Azerbaijan (2024) and Brazil (2025), as part of the 2025 Copenhagen Climate Ministerial.

Andy Deacon, Co-Managing Director of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM), moderated the session, which included national leaders and mayors such as Chilando Chitangala, Mayor of Lusaka, Zambia, representing the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) constituency.

Mayor Chitangala spoke candidly about the direct impacts of climate change in Lusaka. “We live the realities of climate change daily, facing severe floods and heatwaves that continue to strain our infrastructure and services,” she said.

“Cities are on the frontlines, but we cannot act alone. We must be part of the policy-making process at every level. Without local action, global ambitions will remain out of reach.”

Denmark’s Climate Ambassador, Ole Thonke, reinforced the importance of local leadership, commending early endorsers of CHAMP and shared his belief in national goals through leadership and shared responsibility.

“With all 98 municipalities committed to climate plans, Denmark is demonstrating how collaboration across levels can drive the green transition, whether in energy, transport, or agriculture. Our introduction of the world’s first livestock emissions tax is a testament to that ambition,” he said.

About CHAMP: The Coalition for High Ambition Multi-Level Partnerships

Launched at COP28 in 2023, the CHAMP Coalition brings together national governments that are committed to stronger collaboration with subnational governments in designing, financing, and implementing climate strategies.

These include NDCs, National Adaptation Plans, and Long-Term Low-Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS). As of now, 75 national governments have endorsed CHAMP.

Andy Deacon of GCoM described the roundtable as a pivotal moment. “We’re already seeing the outcomes of multilevel cooperation, and CHAMP is helping make national climate plans more inclusive and effective. By uniting national and local actors, we’re laying the groundwork for meaningful, people-centered climate action.”

Earlier this year, C40 Cities and GCoM released a report at the Green and Resilient Urbanshift Africa Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, titled “How National Governments Can Increase Finance for Subnational Climate Action.”

Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the report offers implementation tools, financial strategies, and coordination frameworks to help CHAMP member governments mobilize finance for local climate initiatives.

Gino Van Begin, Secretary General of ICLEI and LGMA Constituency Focal Point, emphasized CHAMP’s importance: “CHAMP has become a vital mechanism for embedding multilevel governance at the core of national climate strategies. Throughout 2025, ICLEI and the LGMA Constituency will continue connecting cities and regions to national plans through CHAMP, Town Hall COPs, and the COP30 Urban Climate Ministerial alongside the Cities and Regions Hub in Belém.”