The European Union’s recent endorsement of the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) signals more than a symbolic gesture, it marks a strategic shift in how the EU envisions harnessing climate action across governance layers. As the world turns its attention to the COP30 conference in Belém, Brazil, this step foregrounds cities and regions as pivotal actors in turning national climate ambitions into real-world impact.
Reframing Climate Governance
By joining CHAMP, the EU is underscoring that emission reduction and resilience efforts are not confined to capitals or national ministries but can increasingly depend on local and regional actors. According to the EU’s own narrative, effective multilevel governance could reduce the current emissions gap by up to 40 percent and support full implementation of national commitments. Through CHAMP, launched during COP28, the goal is to create structured dialogue and coherent policy execution between national, regional and local authorities. The EU’s engagement thus moves from the rhetoric of inclusion to the operational logic of subsidiarity and collaboration.
What the Endorsement Implies for Climate Action
First, this move refocuses attention on the often-overlooked leverage of subnational governments. Cities, for example, already drive large parts of transport, buildings and local energy systems; bringing them into formal frameworks like CHAMP elevates their role from implementers to co-designers of climate strategies. As one local leader put it, “true climate leadership begins in cities”. Second, the endorsement signals that the EU expects national parties to integrate subnational capabilities within their updated national climate plans. This aligns with the EU’s updated NDC, which introduces a 2040 target and a 2035 milestone of a 66.25 – 72.5 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Third, the participation reinforces financing dynamics. CHAMP emphasises improved access to climate finance for cities and regions—a critical step in channeling investment down the governance chain rather than concentrating resources at national level.
The Path Ahead
While promising, the multilevel strategy bears practical risks. Aligning objectives across hundreds of cities, regions and national governments is complex. The EU itself notes that despite emission reductions in 2024, “reaching the 2030 EU energy targets will require much faster uptake of renewables and energy-efficiency improvements”. Without robust resources, capacity-building and accountability mechanisms, the risk is that subnational commitments remain symbolic. Moreover, for non-EU countries or regions with weaker governance structures, the challenge of integrating into frameworks like CHAMP may be greater.
Yet the timing matters. With COP30 advancing a multilevel “mutirão” (collective mobilisation) agenda, the EU’s endorsement adds momentum to a broader shift: from global headline pledges to local delivery-oriented action. The nascent coalition of endorsers now covers nearly 36 percent of the world’s population, 69 percent of global GDP and 40 percent of emissions. As members converge in Belém, the test will not merely be ambition but implementation.
A Final Note
The EU’s joining of CHAMP ahead of COP30 is a strategic marker of climate governance evolution, from national targets towards multilevel execution. By formally backing cities and regions as full partners, the EU is acknowledging that climate impact happens locally and requires coordination across governance tiers. The real test will depend on whether this endorsement leads to substantive alignment of finance, planning and accountability. In short, global ambition may increasingly hinge on neighbourhoods, not only capitals.
