A new report by the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) and C40 Cities highlights how the European Union (EU) is translating climate pledges into real-world results through strong multilevel governance and partnerships.
Titled “The European Multilevel Governance Story: Evidence on CHAMP-aligned Implementation in Practice,” the report documents how cities and regions across Europe are empowered to implement national and global climate targets locally.
The report draws on concrete examples from EU institutions and member states, showing how national, regional, and local governments collaborate to design, finance, and deliver climate and energy projects on the ground.
It offers a blueprint for other countries aligned with the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP), which the EU recently joined as its 78th endorser.
Launched at COP28, CHAMP aims to accelerate climate ambition by recognizing the central role of cities and regions in meeting national goals.
“Effective climate action depends on all levels of government moving together,” said Laurence Graff, Adviser for Multi-level Climate Action at the European Commission.
“By strengthening cooperation, sharing expertise, and supporting local investment, we are turning European climate ambition into real transformation for communities.”
From Spain to Sweden: European Cities in Action
The report highlights successful initiatives across Europe, illustrating how multilevel governance drives measurable climate outcomes:
- Germany: As co-chair of CHAMP alongside Brazil, Germany’s National Climate Initiative has invested €2.2 billion in over 60,000 local projects since 2008, mobilizing nearly €7 billion in total investments.
- Denmark: Nearly all Danish municipalities now have climate plans aligned with the Paris Agreement. Together, local governments aim to cut emissions by 76% by 2030, surpassing the national target of 70%.
- Croatia & Portugal: Multilevel dialogues, supported by the European NECPlatform project, engage local governments to improve coordination, financing access, and implementation capacity. France used similar processes to make institutional procedures more inclusive and effective.
- Italy: Regions like Emilia-Romagna and Apulia act as intermediaries, helping municipalities design and implement local climate plans at scale.
- Spain: The CitiES2030 platform accelerates urban climate neutrality by connecting national governments, cities, businesses, and academia.
- Sweden: The Viable Cities programme works with 48 cities and six national agencies to pioneer collaboration models, aiming for climate neutrality by 2030.
Multilevel Governance: A Model for Global Climate Action
The report concludes that strong policy frameworks, dedicated support for cities, and structured cooperation across all levels of government are essential for closing implementation gaps.
Andy Deacon, Co-Managing Director of GCoM, emphasized that the EU experience proves multilevel governance is more than theory.
“Empowered cities and regions, combined with structured cooperation and access to finance, can unlock faster, more effective climate action,” he said. “Regional governments, local associations, and technical partners are critical to bridging national ambition with local delivery.”
As CHAMP enters its implementation phase, the EU’s example offers a practical roadmap for countries worldwide. Through strengthening partnerships between national and subnational governments, cities and regions can transform climate pledges into tangible, measurable results, and accelerate the global transition toward a low-carbon future.
