Before COP 21

At COP 20 in Lima, governments established the Lima-Paris Action Agenda to demonstrate the commitment of non-state actors and coalition of actors towards the goal of limiting global temperature rise through short-term and long-term actions that support a new legal agreement.

The Action Agenda involved both state and non-state actors (national governments, cities, regions and other sub national entities, international organizations, civil society, indigenous peoples, women, youth, academic institutions, as well as businesses) acting as individual entities or in partnerships. It aimed to accelerate actions in the pre-2020 period and afterwards.

A joint undertaking of the Peruvian and French COP presidencies, the Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the UNFCCC Secretariat, the Lima-Paris Action Agenda strengthened climate action throughout 2015 and in Paris in December in several ways:

• Mobilized robust global action towards low carbon and resilient societies;
• Provided enhanced support to existing initiatives, such as those launched during the Secretary-General’s Climate Summit in September 2014; and
• Mobilized new partners and providing a platform for the visibility of their actions, commitments and results in the run up to COP21.

COP 21

At the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties, COP 21, in Paris, it was agreed that mobilizing stronger and more ambitious climate action by all Parties and non-Party stakeholders is urgently required to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

In decision 1/CP.21, the commitments from all actors are recognized, including those launched through the Lima–Paris Action Agenda, as well as the urgent need to scale up the global response to climate change and support greater ambition from governments.

To ensure a durable connection between the Convention and the many voluntary and collaborative actions, Parties decided that two high-level champions shall be appointed. The champions will represent the current COP Presidency and the incoming COP Presidency.

First Champions

The first champions served in 2016 and were Ms. Laurence Tubiana, French Ambassador for climate change and Ms. Hakima El Haite, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment of Morocco, in charge of the Environment.

In June 2016, the first champions published a roadmap for global climate action in which they described their tasks. In addition, the champions launched a consultation among Parties and non-Parties on their road map allowing for written submissions. They posed five questions to guide the submissions regarding the understanding of the landscape for global climate action; the role of the champions; the tracking and showcasing initiatives, the high-level event and the role of the TEMS.

The road map and the submissions received were discussed with Parties and non-Party stakeholders at different meetings: the Alliances and Coalitions Global Forum in Rabat (June), the Climate Chance in Nantes (September), the Climate Week NYC (September) 

and the Pre-COP in Rabat (September). (Synthesis report on the submissions)

On 28 October 2016, the champions made publicly available their reflections on the way forward, as a prelude to the Global Climate Action at COP 22. This document served as basis for consultations with Parties and non-Party stakeholders during COP 22.

During the two weeks at COP 22, the champions socialized the 'Reflections on the Way Forward' with Parties and observers in order to gather their inputs. Based on these consultations, the champions finalized their proposal for the future of global climate action and on 17 November presented and published the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action.

Second Champions

The second champions, currently serving in 2017, are Ms. Hakima El Haite Special Envoy for Climate Change Kingdom of Morocco and Mr. Inia B. Seruiratu Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, Republic of Fiji.

On 4 May 2017, the champions published a proposed approach, draft work programme (739 kB) and an impact and priority tracker (789 kB) . During SB46, the champions consulted with Parties and observers on these documents. Based on these consultations, the champions revised and published their approach for the Marrakech Partnership (347 kB).