Climate and Clean Air Conference 2025: Daily Update – 17 March 2025

Brasília Buzzing as Super Pollutants Take Center Stage

Hosted by CCAC Co-Chair Brazil, the Conference aims to increase ambition on super pollutant action on the road to COP30, including through updated national climate strategies, or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). To tune into Day 1 of the Conference tomorrow at 9:00 AM BST, click here.  

Ahead of tomorrow’s opening plenary, where participants will hear directly from global leaders on climate and clean air, the CCAC Secretariat hosted several breakout sessions, including a Marketplace of Ideas, an Ag-Food Systems Communications Strategy Session and Environment workshop, a workshop on the Air Quality Management Exchange Platform (AQMx), training for national consultants, a meeting of the CCAC Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP), and a meeting of the CCAC Board. 

Marketplace of Ideas

This year, to set the stage for an engaging and impactful Conference, the CCAC Secretariat hosted the Marketplace of Ideas, a new initiative designed to highlight 24 projects across the super pollutant space, in high-impacting sectors including agriculture, cooling, fossil fuels, heavy-duty vehicles and engines, household energy, waste, and clean air. The event connects funders directly with implementers and saw presentations on projects that can have a measurable impact on super pollutant emissions reductions.  

The marketplace offered a unique opportunity to visualize the CCAC-funded projects, allowing organizations to present videos, share materials, learn from fellow participants, and for those brave enough, even try black soldier flies as a tasty snack!  

Agrifood Systems Advocacy Workshop

Today’s Agrifood Systems Advocacy Workshop convened key stakeholders to address the pressing need for reducing agricultural methane and nitrous oxide emissions while achieving triple wins of improving food security, economic livelihoods, and resilience. Greg Kohler, CCAC Agriculture Expert, emphasized that while agriculture is a major contributor to emissions, 20-25% reductions are achievable today through policy implementation and increased finance to the sector. The workshop featured case studies from Brazil, Kenya, Uruguay,IFAD, and the World Bank, showcasing policy and financial mechanisms that promote climate-smart agriculture. Brazil’s experience highlighted the importance of interministerial collaboration, incentives-based policies, and the need for solutions that align with farmers' economic interests. The World Bank underscored the role of private sector engagement and the necessity of integrating climate goals with economic benefits for farmers. 

The interactive session focused on communication challenges and strategies to drive agrifood system transformation. Participants identified key barriers, such as the need to tailor messages to different stakeholders, overcome risk aversion among farmers, and align climate goals with productivity benefits. Effective communication requires trusted voices, clear demonstrations of successful alternatives, and framing climate action as part of broader food security objectives. Participants agreed that all stakeholders—including farmers, policymakers, private sector actors, and consumers—must be actively engaged in the conversation. The workshop underscored that communication should not be an afterthought but a core element of climate action strategies in agriculture.  

AQMx Workshop

Today’s Air Quality Management Exchange (AQMx) Workshop highlighted the platform’s role as a global hub for air quality management, responding to the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA6) Resolution on Air Quality. Developed by the CCAC Secretariat, AQMx provides air quality managers worldwide with technical guidance, policy resources, and capacity-building tools. The workshop introduced the platform through real-world applications, demonstrating its potential to support clean air policies and enhance technical expertise. Representatives from organizations including the Clean Air Fund (CAF), Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and Clean Air Institute shared insights into air quality challenges and the need for stronger coordination. A key theme was the necessity of both data-driven solutions and human-centered engagement to ensure real-world impact.  

The discussion reinforced the political momentum in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), particularly in Brazil, where air quality management is advancing through technical capacity-building and policy implementation. AQMx is a tool that has provided a response to a need identified in the Regional Action Plan on Air Quality 2022-2025, developed within the framework of the Intergovernmental Network on Atmospheric Pollution, as mandated by the Forum of LAC Environment Ministers. An opportunity to continue integrating AQMx into the next Regional Plan was discussed, which is expected to be presented in 2025 meeting in Lima. Additionally, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) discussed the launch of the COP30 Belém Health Action Plan, scheduled for March 18-19, which will link super pollutants, air pollution, and health outcomes into concrete policy actions ahead. Speaking on the plan’s importance, Daniel Buss of PAHO emphasized, “We are proud to support Brazil and countries around the world on an ambitious global health and climate plan that can protect the health of people and promote cleaner, healthier, and sustainable environments for all. The CCAC and PAHO/WHO and partners are united in these efforts.”

This effort is closely tied to next week’s World Health Organization (WHO) Conference on Air Pollution and Health in Cartagena, where Member States are invited to pledge commitments toward reducing air pollution by 50%. The workshop concluded with an interactive session on expanding AQMx use cases, with participants identifying transport, industry, and waste management as the most pressing sources of emissions in their jurisdictions. With increasing global recognition of air pollution’s health and environmental impacts, AQMx is positioned as a key tool to accelerate clean air action worldwide.

National Consultants NDC Workshop  

On Sunday, CCAC national experts from around the world joined a specialized NDC Workshop to enhance their work in supporting their countries on climate and clean air policy. Their expertise is key to driving real action at the national level, and the session focused on building technical capacity to integrate super pollutants into national commitments through the CCAC’s super pollutant guidance document. Participants explored strategies to enhance their country’s NDCs while ensuring that mitigation efforts address both climate change and air quality goals.  

In a session co-hosted by the Stockholm Environment Institute, the discussion shifted toward lessons learned from previous super pollutant integration efforts. Experts presented a range of practical approaches for enhancing NDCs, emphasizing how countries can tailor solutions to their unique policy and economic contexts. The session also initiated conversations on specific support needs for NDC 3.0 improvements, setting the stage for follow-up meetings throughout the Annual Meeting to continue refining strategies for stronger, more effective national climate commitments.  

Watch CCAC Senior Consultant Ana Maria Kleymeyer highlight key takeaways from the workshop here: