United Kingdom Elected as Co-Chair of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, Highlighting Ambitious Agenda to Tackle Super Pollutants 

Paris, 21 February 2025 – Country partners of the UNEP-convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) have elected the Government of the United Kingdom as incoming Co-Chair of the Coalition, joining fellow Co-Chair Brazil to lead the fight against super pollutants that drive climate change and air pollution, often with devastating impacts on health and our economies. 

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.

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) is an action-oriented partnership of 190 governments, international organizations, and NGOs. Co-Chairs are elected for two-year terms, and the United Kingdom will play a leading role in the partnership by presiding over the CCAC’s board and annual meeting, as well as agenda setting within the Coalition.  

Kerry McCarthy, Minister for Climate at the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and incoming Co-Chair of the CCAC, said: "I am proud that the UK is joining Brazil to co-lead the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, this new responsibility reflects our unwavering commitment to tackling dangerous super pollutants and accelerating the global clean energy transition. As we position ourselves as a clean energy superpower, the UK will work alongside our partners to champion bold, science-driven solutions to combat climate change and improve air quality worldwide.”

“As hosts of COP30, we are eager to partner with the UK as Co-Chairs of the CCAC to highlight the significant benefits that a unified approach on super pollutants can have for communities around the world”, said Adalberto Maluf, National Secretary of Urban Environment, Water Resources and Environmental Quality, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in Brazil, and CCAC Co-Chair. “This partnership exemplifies the power of South-North collaboration in galvanizing increased ambition, and we look forward to convening all coalition members at next month’s CCAC Climate and Clean Air Conference 2025 in Brasília.”  

Martina Otto, Head of the CCAC Secretariat, said “the UK has long been a champion of action on climate and clean air issues. Its leadership on innovative policy approaches and its expertise will be key to the success of the partnership as we continue the fight against super pollutants. The UK’s newly released national climate plan (NDC 3.0) provides inspiration for countries to integrate super pollutants and tackle air pollution in national and global climate strategies, and we look forward to working together to help avoid dangerous climate tipping points.”  

With 2030 just five years away, the clock is ticking on achieving critical climate goals. Momentum alone won’t cut it—action must turn into measurable progress now. As Co-Chairs of the CCAC, the UK and Brazil are committed to work with the entire partnership to take actionable solutions to scale, helping us avoid the worst of the climate crisis and benefitting both people and planet.  

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NOTES TO EDITORS

About the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)  

The UNEP-Convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) is a partnership of 190 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