*[Enwl-eng] Here is the latest news from the Climate High-Level Champions!

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Jun 21, 2025, 4:32:17 PM6/21/25

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UN Climate Change – Global Climate Action

19 June 2025

Climate High-Level Champions'

Newsletter

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Ahead of COP 30, the Climate High-Level Champions head to Bonn to Strengthen Delivery, Align Ambition and Help Close the Finance Gap

Climate High-Level Champion for COP 30, Dan Ioschpe and Nigar Arpadarai, Climate High-Level Champion for COP 29.

The Climate High-Level Champions join delegates from around the world in Bonn, Germany this week for the June Climate Meetings – formally known as the 62nd Subsidiary Body Sessions – to lay the groundwork for ambitious outcomes at COP 30 in Belém, Brazil this November.

With countries preparing their critical next round of national climate, adaptation and nature plans (including Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs), the Champions are focused on strengthening the link between policy and practice to ensure these plans are grounded in real-world progress, responsive to lived realities, and capable of unlocking the capital required to deliver them.

The talks come at a pivotal time. Discussions are underway on how to rapidly scale finance from all sources to where it is needed most. Six months on from the global climate finance goal agreed at COP 29 in Azerbaijan, the gap between promises and delivery remains wide. Climate impacts are escalating while many of the communities most exposed communities continue to lack the finance or support to respond.

Guided by the Global Stocktake of progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, the international community must now move from diagnosis to delivery, as outlined by the COP President-designate in his fourth letter on his vision for the Global Climate Action Agenda for COP 30.

The Champions – Nigar Arpadarai, Climate High-Level Champion for COP 29 and Dan Ioschpe, Climate High-Level Champion for COP 30 – are working with the Marrakech Partnership and partners across the broader global climate action community to support this shift, amplifying the voices, solutions and insights of those already delivering change on the ground. This year’s programme centres on three priorities:

● Accelerating implementation of proven solutions across key sectors from food and energy, to nature and urban systems.

● Making climate action investable, inclusive and accessible to developing countries, and small businesses.

● Ensuring the next round of NDCs are fully implemented in line with science, equity, and whole-of-society momentum.

Throughout the week, the Champions will engage with leaders from governments, businesses, financiers, as well as representatives from cities, regions, subnational governments and civil society. Workshops and public events include:

●     A COP 30 Presidency Global Climate Action Agenda event - Friday June 20, 13:00 - 14:30 CEST, World Conference Centre Bonn (WCCB), launching the COP President-designate’s fourth letter for the Global Climate Action Agenda at COP 30.

● Joint work on advancing the Baku to Belém Roadmap to scale up climate finance for developing countries by at least USD 1.3 trillion annually by 2035.

● Supporting implementation of the Global Stocktake and mobilizing nature-positive finance.

● Thematic discussions on decarbonization, adaptation and resilience.

● Engagements with local government leaders, Indigenous Peoples, youth, financiers and civil society.

● Listening sessions with the Marrakech Partnership to strengthen collaboration towards the goals of the Paris Agreement.

While clean energy investment reached a record USD 2.2 trillion in 2024 – twice that of fossil fuels – adaptation finance remains far below the USD 194 to 366 billion needed annually. While many countries are working to translate ambition into implementation, they continue to face structural barriers: from limited access to concessional finance, to a lack of investable project pipelines.

The Champions are working to bridge those barriers – by aligning NDCs with real-economy and whole-of-society momentum, surfacing solutions from developing countries, and helping to maintain trust in the process by demonstrating that progress is both possible and underway.

Find out more about the June Climate Meetings programme and follow the Champions on their website, LinkedIn and Instagram to learn more about their work in Bonn and beyond.

Accelerating Climate Action for Implementation: A New Chapter for UNFCCC Climate Weeks Launched

The urgent need to scale and accelerate climate action from the real economy was a central theme at the first UNFCCC Climate Week of 2025, in their new format, held in Panama City, from 19 to 23 May.

From left to right: José Vicente Troya, UNDP Hub Manager; Mammad Talibov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Mexico, Nigar Arpadarai, Climate High-Level Champion for COP 29; Ana Toni, COP 30 CEO; Yalchin Rafiyev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, The Republic of Azerbaijan / COP 29 Chief Negotiator; Juan Navarro, Minister of Environment of Panama; Simon Stiell, UNFCCC Executive Secretary; Noura Hamladji, UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary; Oscar Vallarino Bernat, Vice Minister of Environment of Panama; Hilen Meirovich, Climate Change Head at IDB Invest; Juan Bello, Director, UNEP’s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Leaders across civil society and the global economy gathered to align local and regional efforts with the global climate agenda to ensure momentum feeds into the intergovernmental process leading to COP 30 in Belém. The focus: advancing solutions that deliver for both people and the planet.

UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, called on participating nations to make a decisive shift from ambition to implementation. Climate Weeks have evolved from being discussion-based forums to action-oriented platforms, where every conversation, investment, and partnership is strategically aligned with achieving the 1.5°C climate goal and enhancing global climate resilience. The event emphasized cross-sector collaboration, bringing together governments, businesses, investors, city and region leaders, Indigenous Peoples, and civil society around practical solutions. Sessions focused on moving from commitments to measurable implementation. The Brazilian COP 30 Presidency used the platform to engage stakeholders and build momentum ahead of COP 30, sharing their vision for collective action.

“There’s still a long way to go but we have the solutions to supercharge the transition and chart a path towards a safer and healthier future - by driving ambition, sustaining momentum, and cementing a legacy of inclusive, transformative climate action,” said the Climate High-Level Champion for COP 29, Nigar Arpadarai.

To shape the future of climate action, Arpadarai joined representatives of business, subnational governments, civil society, and local communities. Together with Ana Toni, CEO of COP 30 and the Climate High-Level Champion for COP 30, Dan Ioschpe, Nigar highlighted the urgent necessity to scale up solutions already underway and build on the lessons learned from previous years. Meanwhile Ioschpe reinforced the need to focus on real implementation to accelerate climate action in the years ahead.

Small and Medium Enterprises were highlighted as crucial engines of climate innovation. Arpadarai engaged in discussions to address the barriers hindering the needed investments to scale solutions, highlighting that tangible real-economy action can spur systemic changes at speed and scale.

Spotlighting the progress of the Race to Zero and Race to Resilience campaigns to deliver concrete actions, the Climate Champion for COP 29 emphasized that partnerships are key to ensure that the upcoming COP is not only a milestone in the climate calendar but a true turning point in the Global Climate Action Agenda.

Country-level climate plans, or ‘Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)’ were another focal point of the discussions. Leaders from across sectors explored opportunities to unlock investment, create jobs, protect nature, and build more resilient and fairer societies through robust NDCs.

Nature Summit

Running in parallel with the Climate Week, the Nature Summit - co-hosted by Panama’s Ministry of Environment brought together government leaders, philanthropists, family offices, and business leaders to mobilize capital for nature. The summit aimed to strengthen global cooperation and forge partnerships to accelerate the blue and green economy transitions. Speaking at the Nature Summit, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell emphasized that next-generation climate plans can effectively drive sustainable growth. He indicated that these plans not only stimulate industries and economies but also promote a future where nature is protected. By doing so, they create better opportunities for people, generate "more jobs, more revenue and where people have better opportunities" to establish a virtuous cycle of investment and innovation.

Climate Weeks

Looking ahead, the ‘Climate Weeks 2025: Dialogues for Ambition and Implementation’ will be held twice annually in different regions, maintaining a global focus on collaboration and action. The second Climate Week is planned to take place in Africa during the first week of September ahead of COP 30.

Changing the Narrative - and Scaling Indigenous Climate Leadership

Guest Interview: Eileen Mairena Cunningham

Eileen Mairena Cunningham, Director, Center for the Development and Autonomy of Indigenous Peoples

Eileen Mairena Cunningham, a prominent Miskitu leader from Nicaragua’s Mosquito Coast, has been a dedicated advocate for Indigenous Peoples' rights and climate action for over a decade. As the focal point to the Indigenous Peoples Organizations constituency to the UNFCCC, Eileen plays a crucial role in amplifying Indigenous voices globally and integrating their knowledge system into international climate policy.

In this interview, Eileen shares her insights on the intersection between traditional knowledge and modern climate strategies, discusses the barriers Indigenous communities face in accessing climate funding, and her hopes for COP 30.

Please explain your current role.

“Primarily I'm the Indigenous Peoples focal point for the UNFCCC, serving as a bridge between Indigenous Peoples across seven sociocultural regions and the UN climate negotiations. My key focus is advocating for climate finance and ensuring Indigenous Peoples' visions and contributions are integrated into climate policy. Additionally, I work on capacity building, strengthening Indigenous networks, and preparing youth as future climate leaders.

My role also involves research - to provide clear evidence of Indigenous Peoples' leadership in climate resilience and biodiversity conservation, and their contribution to the global climate goals, which includes the recently launched Global Study on Indigenous Peoples’ Climate Contributions, which seeks to understand how Indigenous Peoples are responding to climate change through their practices, lived experiences and adaptive strategies.

Rice terraces in the Indigenous community of Sagada, in the Cordillera region of the Philippines. Credit: Eileen Mairena Cunningham.

How have Indigenous practices boosted resilience in Nicaragua?

Our region is increasingly vulnerable to hurricanes, which are becoming more frequent, intense, and devastating. In 2021, within just ten days, our region endured two powerful hurricanes—one category four and one category five. Despite these back-to-back disasters, amazingly there were no fatalities, thanks to effective disaster organization, early warning systems, and Indigenous governance systems that coordinated evacuations and return strategies.

After these hurricanes, entire communities were completely wiped out, with seawater pushed many miles inland by severe storm surges. In the process of rebuilding, communities focused not only on reconstructing homes, but also reviving agricultural practices through traditional methods, such as the Miskitu practice of ‘intercropping’ - growing native species together, which strengthens resistance to winds and floods, while also promoting soil regeneration, and reducing pests and diseases.

In the Indigenous community of Waspam, Nicaragua, a Miskitu mother attends women’s rights training with her daughter. Credit: Eileen Mairena Cunningham.

What obstacles prevent Indigenous communities from receiving direct funding

Indigenous Peoples protect a large amount of the world’s biodiversity, but strikingly they only receive less than one percent of total climate finance. This is due to bureaucratic and restrictive funding mechanisms. Currently, funding is often channelled through intermediaries—governments or large NGOs—that impose complex administrative requirements which Indigenous groups can struggle to meet.

Complex compliance requirements imposed by financial mechanisms and funding institutions are also a significant barrier to climate finance. While large NGOs are accustomed to their reporting processes, Indigenous Communities often lack the resources and familiarity to navigate them effectively.

Overall, there is also a lack of trust that Indigenous governance structures are capable of implementing actions on the ground. As a result, too often Indigenous Communities go ahead and implement activities in their territories without the funding. We need far more attention on these issues and additional capacity to deal with them.

How will the Global Data Study on Indigenous Peoples' help to change the narrative?

The Global Data Study is a critical opportunity to generate evidence and elevate Indigenous perspectives within climate finance and policy. As a member of the Study team, I see this as more than a research project—it is an opportunity to shift the global conversation.

For years, Indigenous Peoples have said: “We are actively contributing to climate solutions.” The Study aims to prove that with data—tracking how Indigenous territories support both mitigation and adaptation, and spotlighting real-world examples in biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.

Childhood by the river. A young Miskitu boy shows his day’s catch in the Indigenous community of Leimus, along the Wangki (Río Coco). Nicaragua. Credit: Eileen Mairena Cunningham.

Existing research shows that even small-scale funding drives impactful local change, revealing not only that traditional knowledge works, but that Indigenous Peoples can successfully manage and implement funds. The message is clear: with more support, we could scale this work exponentially.

Beyond showcasing Indigenous Peoples’ contributions, the Study also explores the policy and legal frameworks that enable or constrain Indigenous climate action. In countries where Indigenous Peoples have secure land rights and are recognized as self-determined actors, the impact is consistently stronger, underscoring that legal recognition and governance structures must be a foundation of effective climate policy.

One of our goals is to ensure Indigenous-led conservation approaches are embedded into countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). For example, Nepal's NAP includes measures aimed at enhancing the adaptive capacity of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, acknowledging their unique contributions to climate resilience. Also, Canada's NDC commits a specific budget to support climate actions within Indigenous territories, recognizing their vital role in addressing climate change. A few countries are doing this already, but the opportunities for broader adoption and replication are enormous.

Ultimately, we want the Study to identify Indigenous knowledge systems, leadership, and governance structures that are ready to scale. If embraced by climate finance institutions, the Study could be a game-changer - transforming how funds are allocated and making space for a more just and effective climate finance architecture that centers Indigenous leadership.”

This is an excerpt, the full interview is available here.

President Lula of Brazil Announces Appointment of COP 30 Presidency Youth Climate Champion

The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, recently announced Marcele Oliveira, a 26-year-old climate activist, to the role of COP 30 Presidency Youth Climate Champion to represent the perspectives and voices of youth within the global climate discussions.

President Lula, Marcele Oliveira, COP 30 Young Climate Champion, and Minister Macedo | Photo: Ricardo Stuckert/PR

The COP 29 and COP 30 Climate High-Level Champions, Nigar Arpadarai and Dan Ioschpe commented:

“The appointment of Marcele Oliveira as Brazil’s Presidency Youth Climate Champion for COP 30 reaffirms what we already know: young people are not waiting for permission to lead. From grassroots movements to climate-focused organizations and decision-making spaces, youth are shaping solutions and shifting systems. We are proud to support leaders like Marcele who embody the climate action and ambition we need.”

The COP 30 Presidency will work closely with the Climate High-Level Champions, and Presidency Youth Climate Champion, Marcele Oliveira, as well as selected Special Envoys, to trigger an unprecedented global mobilization against climate change - known as the ‘Global Mutirão.’

Presidency Youth Climate Champion, Marcele Oliveira, said:

“I am honored to be playing this role, to be the Youth Champion of COP 30. Together with the participation of young people, children and adolescents, we will build our contribution to COP 30, so that it does not remain only within the walls of the conference, but that it reverberates with our way of seeing and thinking about the world.”

Further information can be found here.

Introducing the 2025 Climate Champions Youth Fellows

Also in support of the youth climate action agenda, The Climate Champions Team was recently proud to introduce its fifth cohort of Youth Fellows.

From left to right: Vittoria Porciuncula Horch, Pedro Tufic Silveira Bouchabki, Javahir Muradova, Naomi Wanja Njihia, Jocelyne Tomas Rojas, Dang-Dao Nguyen, Constance Iwu, Bridget Adams.

Representing seven countries across four continents, our Fellows, aged between 23 and 29, will leverage their experience in key areas, from finance to nature to rally climate leadership across the non-State actor community in support of the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Meet the 2025 Youth Fellows here.

Race to Resilience update:

The Campaign to build the resilience of four billion people in vulnerable communities to climate risks by 2030 continues to gain momentum, welcoming two new partner initiatives:

17 Million Voices for Change - The Women’s Movement of the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC)

Representatives of GATC and Nigar Arpadarai, Climate Champion for COP 29.

Representing more than 17 million Indigenous and local community women across 24 countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC) champions gender-responsive action to protect over 958 million hectares of land. The GATC movement advances land rights; Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC); direct access to finance; and the preservation of traditional knowledge.

Sewing Change - Bunko Junko Empowers Women to Combat Fast Fashion

Bunko Junko is dedicated to building resilience through environmental sustainability and women’s empowerment.

Bunko Junko transforming textile waste into high-fashion pieces – blending sustainability with empowerment/ From discarded to desired - Bunko Junko’s circular journey. Credit: Bunko Junko.

By providing skills training and dignified employment to women from rescue and shelter homes, the India-based initiative fosters independence and social integration while challenging the throwaway culture of fast fashion. Bunko Junko promotes conscious consumerism and partners with businesses to adopt waste-reducing practices. Through workshops and educational programs, it also raises awareness about sustainable living and the importance of a circular economy.

Atlanta Joins the Race to Resilience: Committing to increase the resilience of over half million people

The city of Atlanta is officially participating in the Race to Resilience supporting the aim to catalyze a shift in global ambition for climate resilience and build the resilience of 4 billion people to climate risks by 2030.

The city’s key focus areas within the Race to Resilience include:

● Improving access to solar energy with a commitment to 100% clean energy by 2035

● Supporting healthy eating with a commitment to provide all Atlantans with access to fresh, healthy food within a half walkable mile by 2030.

● Increasing access to nature and tree cover, enabling all residents to access parks within a 10-minute walk by 2040 and to achieve and maintain 50% tree canopy across the city.

The Climate High-Level Champions commented:

"We're proud to welcome the City of Atlanta to the Cities Race to Resilience. Subnational governments are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, where the impacts hit hardest and action can't wait. Their leadership in adaptation and resilience is essential to fast-track inclusive, effective climate solutions for people and planet."

USD 9M+ Insurance Policy Shields Syria’s Vulnerable Communities from Drought

Credit: World Food Programme.

In February 2025, a USD 9.25 million climate risk insurance policy was launched to safeguard communities in Syria from the escalating impacts of drought. Developed by Race to Resilience partner, the Insurance Development Forum (IDF), in collaboration with Swiss Re, Hiscox, Howden, and the nonprofit Humanity Insured, the policy is designed to provide the World Food Programme (WFP) with prearranged financing when rainfall drops below critical levels in key agricultural regions.

Triggered by satellite-monitored drought conditions, the policy will enable rapid assistance to up to 240,000 vulnerable people, ensuring timely support in times of crisis.

Ivo Menzinger, Managing Director of Public Sector Business at Swiss Re, and Chair of the Insurance Development Forum Operating Committee, said:

“By ensuring rapid financial support when drought occurs, this policy demonstrates the power of collaboration in closing the crisis protection gap and strengthening food security.

When combined with broader risk management measures, such as social safety nets and community-led resilience initiatives, insurance plays a critical role in safeguarding livelihoods and ensuring long-term stability.”

Further details can be found here.

Call for Contributions: Climate Resilient Infrastructure Report on Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion

Race to Resilience partner, the International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure (ICSI), and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) are collaborating on the fourth edition of the ‘Climate Resilient Infrastructure Report, focusing on Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI).

This edition will explore why integrating GEDSI across the entire infrastructure lifecycle — from policies and strategies to standards and indicators — is crucial for developing sustainable and resilient infrastructure. Through real-world case studies spanning diverse sectors, regions, and stages of infrastructure development, the report will highlight the tangible benefits of a GEDSI-informed approach and illustrate how it advances global frameworks such as the SDGs and the Race to Resilience campaign.

Submit your contribution here.

From Pernambuco to the World: CBA 19 Unites 78 Nationalities for Climate Adaptation

CBA 19 - the 19th Climate-Based Adaptation Summit was recently co-hosted by the Brazilian state of Pernambuco and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).

With 390 people representing 78 nationalities living and 63 countries attending, the event was the first CBA conference held in Latin America, and the largest to date.

Governor Krause, The State of Pernambuco. Credit: Tarciso Augusto/Semas.

Pernambuco recently joined the Race to Resilience as part of RegionsAdapt, aligning its vision to foster local climate adaptation solutions that in turn, inspire global action.

Speaking at the summit, Priscila Krause, Acting Governor of the State of Pernambuco, commented:

“Pernambuco is marked by impressive natural and cultural diversity, home to two major biomes – the Atlantic Forest and the Caatinga – and a rich social fabric that reveals itself in each region of our territory. This diversity is also reflected in the challenges we face regarding climate change.

"Our goal is to bring together communities and people who experience the consequences of climate change on a daily basis to exchange experiences and successful practices, so that everyone can learn and take these good practices to their territories.

At CBA19, Pernambuco Government also announced its State Plan for Climate Adaptation and Resilience. Speaking about the Plan, Governor Krause added:

“The proposal will ensure representation, valuing traditional knowledge and guiding actions to reduce the vulnerability of populations most exposed to climate risks, scientifically ensuring that our public policies incorporate the challenges of the present and the future."

Race to Resilience partners the Adaptation Research Alliance (ARA) and the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) also showcased their commitment to locally-led adaptation at CBA19.

ARA contributed to sessions on nature-based solutions, urban resilience, and adaptation finance, and led conversations on decolonising evaluation by centering community voices in defining success. The session highlighted the need for indicators that reflect the lived realities of vulnerable communities, rather than donor-driven frameworks—distilling key messages for COP 30 and beyond.

GRP hosted the Shark Tank, a multi-day innovation lab where local climate entrepreneurs refined and pitched solutions to funders. Selected ideas featured in the plenary, boosting visibility and partnerships. The process included expert mentoring, peer learning, and exercises to test clarity, impact, and scalability.

Both partners underscored the value of inclusive, community-driven solutions and strategic support to scale meaningful adaptation ahead of COP 30.

Adaptation Research Alliance (ARA) at CBA19, Pernambuco.

Tools Help Countries Integrate Mangroves into Climate Plans

As countries prepare to submit new national climate plans “NDCs” by the end of 2025, Race to Resilience partner, the Mangrove Breakthrough NDC Task Force has released a set of four policy guidance resources.

These briefs offer clear, practical guidance for national governments seeking to integrate the value of mangroves into their updated NDCs.

The new resources are designed to help countries set science-based, measurable, and actionable targets for mangrove conservation, restoration, sustainable management, and financing. The guidance includes:

The Climate Champions Team co-leads the NDC Task Force, which was established in 2024 to support countries in developing ambitious, mangrove-positive commitments in their national climate plans under the Paris Agreement, as they update their NDCs this year.

Race to Zero Update:

Raising the Bar: B Lab Strengthens Standards for Business Impact

Credit: B Corporation.

As the climate crisis intensifies and societal inequality grows, the need to bring about systemic change is clear. In response, Race to Zero Accelerator, B Lab, has unveiled an enhanced set of standards designed to equip companies with the tools to drive meaningful, sustainable impact.

Since 2006, B Lab has defined the performance criteria businesses must meet and continuously improve upon to achieve and maintain B Corp Certification. The organisation has consistently refined these standards to clarify what it means to be a leading business for good, integrating feedback from diverse stakeholders to ensure relevance and rigour.

Grace Son, Senior Standards Manager at B Lab Global, said:

“The B Impact Assessment has long measured company performance in collective action, focusing on key areas like external research, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and advocacy.

“The new ‘Government Affairs and Collective Action (GACA)’ requirement builds on this foundation by expanding the scope to include mentorship and thought leadership as additional examples of meaningful collaboration.”

To date, nearly 10,000 companies across 100 countries – employing almost a million workers across 160 industries – have achieved B Corp certification. The new standards promise to not only deepen the impact of existing B Corps but also set a higher bar for aspiring purpose-driven businesses worldwide.

Member Spotlight

● BT Group has introduced a contractual clause requiring its suppliers to report and progressively reduce their emissions over time, resulting in notable reductions in Scope 3 (supply chain) emissions.

● Unilever is actively encouraging trade associations to advocate for stronger climate policies.

● Simon Fraser University (SFU) has been leveraging its academic and scientific expertise by positioning experts in key government advisory groups, including COP climate summit delegations and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Check Out the New Race to Zero Video Series!

Explore the “5Ps” in Five Minutes – a quick and engaging way to understand the Race to Zero criteria for credible, science-aligned action on net zero.

Available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, the series is perfect for sharing with your stakeholders. Watch it now on our refreshed website: Race to Zero – Engage

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