Climate change

Chambers Climate Coalition recognised as part of landmark Climate Ambition Alliance at COP25

  • 16 December 2019

The Chambers Climate Coalition, an unprecedented grassroots mobilisation of 2,100 chambers of commerce – representing over 10 million local business leaders – committed to climate action, has been included as part of the Climate Ambition Alliance at COP25.

COP25 President Carolina Schmidt, announced an alliance of 73 countries, 14 regions, 401 cities, 786 businesses, and 16 investors, to take urgent action and raise climate ambition. The alliance was formed at  the 2019 Climate Action Summit in September, hosted by United Nations Secretary General Antonio Gutterres.

The Chambers Climate Coalition is an initiative launched by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) to mobilise chambers of commerce to take climate action, aligned with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and reaching net-zero emissions by no later than 2050.

The Coalition is recognised in the Climate Ambition Alliance’s annex, alongside other leading private sector commitments. These include the Our Only Future pledge, the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, and the Certified B-Corporations (B-corps) movement, with over 500 B-corps pledging to achieve net zero emissions by 2030.

On ICC’s incorporation into the Ambition Alliance, ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO said: “Our inclusion in this important alliance is true testament to the dedication of our chamber network and small businesses everywhere, to make climate action everyone’s business. As a member of the Climate Ambition Alliance, we will continue to work with our worldwide chamber network to support the latest climate science and to scale climate action.”

By joining this group of climate action pioneers, ICC will continue to work with business, government and civil society to reduce worldwide emissions and solidify climate action commitments ahead of next year’s COP26 in Glasgow. On the sidelines of COP25, Mr Denton, ICC Chairman Paul Polman and ICC’s Director of Inclusive and Green Growth Majda Dabaghi, met with COP26 President-delegate Clare O’Neill, to discuss the importance of incorporating ICC’s extensive business and chambers network into next year’s COP26 in Glasgow.

Ms Dabaghi said: “We are delighted for the recognition the Chambers Climate Coalition has received by the COP25 Presidency for its commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. The work does not stop here, however. Ahead of COP26, we will continue to encourage local business leaders everywhere to raise ambition and demonstrate concrete and bold climate action.”

Are you a local business leader ready to take action on climate? Join the Coalition today.

Read the official United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) press release on the announcement of the Climate Ambition Alliance at COP25.