Mr Topping will help drive action from businesses,
investors, organisations, cities, and regions on
climate change and coordinate this work with
governments and parties to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The Champion role was created in 2015 at the climate
talks in Paris to help realise ambitions to lower
carbon emissions and build resilience to climate
change.
It is held for two years and Mr Topping will work
alongside the Chilean COP High Level Climate Action
Champion, Gonzalo Muñoz.
Mr Topping was most recently CEO of We Mean Business, a
coalition of businesses working to accelerate the
transition to a zero carbon economy. Prior to that he
was Executive Director of the Carbon Disclosure
Project.
He brings valuable expertise from 18 years in the
private sector, having worked across the world in
emerging markets and manufacturing.
COP26 High Level Climate Action Champion Nigel Topping
said:
I am thrilled to be taking on the role of High Level
Champion to support a successful COP26.
I will work tirelessly with the non-state actor
community to help bring the very best of their work
to Glasgow.
2020 is the year for us all to become climate
champions and the start of a decade in which we
reduce emissions by at least 50 per cent. This will
require each one of us pushing our actions to the
limit, then taking another step.
COP26 President-Designate Claire O’Neill said:
I am so pleased that Nigel Topping has agreed to play
this vitally important Champion role in the year
where we have to motivate everyone, from governments
and businesses to regions, cities and citizens to
commit to urgent climate action.
Nigel’s incredible experience in building coalitions
and driving the focus on targets and actions means he
is the best person we could possibly have in this job
and I’m so looking forward to working together this
year.
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa said:
I am very pleased to welcome Nigel Topping as the new
High-Level Champion. We have seen incredible momentum
from non-state actors as we work towards achieving
the goals of the Paris Agreement and continue to
boost climate ambition in all sectors of society.
I’m confident Mr Topping brings the skills and
experience needed to keep the momentum going and
achieve the deep transformation to reach a
zero-carbon future.
