Leadership Network

I. Background

The need for broader leadership for the action agenda was highlighted at the twenty-second session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22), in Marrakech. To create effective connections between the various actors and to ensure a broadened and deepened connection with those directly engaged in climate action implementation, the high level Climate Champions decided to establish differentiated levels of engagement with individuals, communities and groups emerging from the previous ad-hoc engagement and experiences. Thus in May 2017, Ms. Hakima El Haite, and Mr. Inia B. Seruiratu, Fijian Minister of Agriculture, the two high level Climate Champions for 2017, announced in their “Approach for the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action” the establishment of a Climate Action Leadership Network. This Leadership Network will be a voluntary network of high-level decision-makers and thought-leaders (ministers, CEOs, governors, mayors and civil society leaders) committed to cooperation in the delivery of immediate climate action.

II. Establishment of Climate Action Leadership Network

The vision for this Leadership Network is a high-level network of leaders driving greater climate change ambition and catalyzing climate action on the ground.

The Founders Group of the Climate Action Leadership Network, would be expected to support the Champions and the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action up to COP 26 (2020) and would be expected to have at least one in-person meeting a year. The Leadership Network, which would expand over time, would be called upon for specific advocacy activities to unlock specific high-impact action in thematic areas up to 2020 and for enhanced high-level engagement with the various GCA activities including at the annual Conference of the Parties meeting. One role is immediately foreseen - to magnify high-level engagement in the Global Climate Action activities and their possible participation at COP 23 in Bonn in November 2017.

III. Inaugural meeting of the Founders Group of Climate Action Leadership Network.

To initiate the establishment of the Leadership Network, a meeting of the Founders Group was scheduled during Climate Week on 18 September 2017 in New York City, USA. In this meeting, the following matters relating to the establishment of the Leadership Network were be discussed: purpose, objectives and expectations; roles and responsibilities; next meeting of the Founders Group.

IV. Members of Founders Group of the Climate Action Leadership Network

Mr. Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator (259 kB) *

Ms. Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris and Chair C40 (254 kB)

Mr. Anote Tong, Former President of Kiribati (307 kB) *

Mr. Ashok-Alexander Sridharan, Mayor of Bonn and First Vice President of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (273 kB) *

Mr. Erik Solheim, Executive Director of the UN Environment (298 kB) *

Ms. Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Co-Chair, International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change to the UNFCCC (316 kB)

Mr. Jerry Brown, Governor of California, USA (290 kB) *

Ms. Jill Peeters,  Founder of the Climate without Borders (295 kB) *

Mr. Manuel Pulgar Vidal, Leader of the Climate and Energy Practice of WWF Internationa (288 kB) l*

Mr. Marcelo Mena Carrasco, Minister of Environment, Chile (251 kB)

Mr. Miguel Arias Cañete, European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, EU (298 kB) *

Mr. Paul Polman, CEO Unilever (228 kB)

Ms. Romina Picolotti, President of Centro de Derechos Humanos y Ambiente and Former Minister of Environment, Argentina (366 kB) *

Mr. Saad Abid, President, Bahri Association (303 kB) *

Mr. Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, UAE (297 kB) *

* Attended the inaugural meeting in New York, September 2017.
  Mrs.Yvon Slingenberg on behalf of Mr. Miguel Arias Cañete,
  Ms. Aimee Barnes on behalf of Mr. Jerry Brown and
  Mr. Jamil Ahmad on behalf of Mr. Erik Solheim