Coalition of Leaders Targets Super Pollutants for Fast Climate and Clean Air Gains Ahead of COP30

​​​London, 27 June 2025 – With climate deadlines looming and communities worldwide already feeling the heat and breathing dirty air, global leaders convened in London this week to accelerate one of the most powerful and underutilized tools in the fight against climate change: cutting super pollutants. As part of a series of high-level convenings hosted by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) during London Climate Action Week (LCAW2025), UK Secretary of State Ed Miliband, EU Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra, COP30 President-Designate Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, and UK Climate Minister Kerry McCarthy, and Deputy Mayor London for Environment and Energy, Mete Coban, rallied political will and signal growing momentum to place super pollutant action at the heart of global climate agenda on the road to COP30.

Super pollutants, including methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and tropospheric ozone act at the nexus of climate change and air pollution, and in the case of nitrous oxide, destroy the ozone layer. Fast cuts to these super pollutants offer a key pathway to avoid up to 0.6C of global warming by mid-century and are the only way to keep 1.5C within reach. Addressing these pollutants not only accelerates climate action but also delivers immediate public health and development benefits, especially in vulnerable communities.  

Super pollutant action is our climate emergency break, essential to keep 1.5C within reach, offering a key pathway to avoid up to 0.6C of global warming by mid-century, and London Climate Action Week (LCAW2025) served as both a rallying call and a strategic coordination point on super pollutants, drawing high-level officials, scientific experts, and civil society leaders to spotlight these dangerous pollutants as the next frontier of climate action. By gathering diverse voices ahead of COP30, ​​CCAC events on super pollutants, including on galvanizing finance, air quality and health, and Lowering Organic Waste Methane (LOW-M), have laid the groundwork for stronger multilateral commitments, deeper cross-sectoral collaboration, and the integration of super pollutant mitigation across national development and climate plans.

At LCAW2025, CCAC announced over USD 13 million for national and transformative action on super pollutants for 2025. This includes approximately USD 7 million to support 21 country partners to mitigate super pollutants across agriculture, waste, cooling, and other sectors, and approximately USD 6 million to support a new Food & Nutrition Challenge in 2025, focused on cross-sectoral solutions that improve cold chain infrastructure, divert organic waste from landfills, and strengthen sustainable food systems. However, for the fourth year in a row and highlighting the urgent demand for super pollutant finance, demand far exceeded available resources, with 97 funding requests totaling over USD 32 million. Additionally, Clean Air Fund launched a new report for integrating action on tropospheric ozone into existing climate and clean air efforts: Accelerating Action on Tropospheric Ozone: A Strategic Roadmap for 2025–2030,

As part of the week’s activities, CCAC Co-Chair, the Government of the United Kingdom, announced that Minister Kerry McCarthy is joining the Global Methane Pledge Champions group, reinforcing the UK commitment to tackling Methane. As a Champion, the UK will work with the group to advocate for methane action in relevant global and regional fora and accelerate implementation of the GMP by playing a leading role on international methane efforts and strengthening domestic methane mitigation efforts. Germany also announced the appointment of Parliamentary State Secretary Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter as its new GMP Champion, reflecting growing high-level engagement across the coalition.  

UK Climate Minister Kerry McCarthy said: “Cutting methane emissions is one of the fastest and most effective ways to slow global warming, and we fully support the call to drive urgent global action and ensure this remains high on the international climate agenda. “The UK is proud to be named a Global Methane Pledge Champion and to stand alongside our international partners in tackling this dangerous pollutant.”

Canada also recently announced that it would work together with the European Union as co-conveners of the Global Methane Pledge to advocate for accelerated action on methane by all participants of the pledge. As co-convener of the GMP, Canada will work closely with other GMP Champions to set the strategic direction for global methane advocacy and to highlight that methane mitigation is a critical way to limit warming in the near term and to meet climate objectives.  

Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change Julie Dabrusin said: “Reducing methane emissions remains one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to combat climate change. As a founding member of the Global Methane Pledge in 2021 and a GMP Champion since 2023, Canada recognizes the urgency of driving progress toward the global goal of significantly cutting methane emissions. We’re proud to stand alongside other global leaders taking meaningful action to reduce methane, both at home and around the world.”

Adalberto Maluf, National Secretary of Urban Environment, Water Resources and Environmental Quality at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Brazil and CoChair of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition HighLevel Assembly, said: “As hosts of COP30, Brazil welcomes the strengthened global momentum we’ve seen this week at London Climate Action Week. Now, the focus must shift from rhetoric to delivery, integrating super pollutant action into national climate and air quality strategies will be crucial to set the stage for tangible, inclusive progress on the road to Belém.”

As the world looks ahead to COP30 in Belém, raising ambition on tackling super pollutants. With 2030 just five years away, the clock is ticking on achieving critical climate and clean air goals. Momentum alone won’t cut it—action must turn into measurable progress now.  

NOTES TO EDITORS  

About the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)  

The UNEP-Convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) is a partnership of over 200 governments, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations. It works to reduce powerful but short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) – methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and tropospheric ozone – that drive both climate change and air pollution. Co-Chaired by the United Kingdom and Brazil, it aims to connect ambitious agenda setting with targeted mitigation action within countries and sectors. Robust science and analysis underpin its efforts, and bolstered by its Trust Fund, it has given rise to high level political commitment, in-country support, and a range of tools that help make the case for action and support implementation.  

For more information, please contact:  

• Vincent Hughes, Communications and Media Consultant, Climate and Clean Air Coalition Secretariat at United Nations Environment Programme – Vincent.Hughes [at] un.org  
• Ava Bahrami, Communications Officer, Climate and Clean Air Coalition Secretariat at United Nations Environment Programme – Ava.Bahrami [at] un.org