Quad Workshop on Subnational Climate Action under Q-CHAMP

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The impacts of climate change have been evident all over the world, and immediate climate actions are necessary to address this global challenge. Last year, the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was  held in Glasgow, UK,  and adopted the Glasgow Climate Pact, which calls for countries to accelerate their reduction efforts to keep the global average temperature increase below 1.5 degrees Celsius. 
The Paris Agreement and the Glasgow Climate Pact recognise the important role of non-state actors in climate actions, including local and regional governments. In particular, the role of subnational governments, which set out and implement frameworks for local climate actions, is becoming more important than ever to achieve the goal of net zero emissions. Increased cooperation from both subnational and national governments will be important in helping national governments reduce global carbon dioxide emissions to net zero around mid-century.
On 24 May 2022, Quad (Japan, Australia, India and the US) leaders met in Tokyo and issued the Quad Joint Leaders’ Statement. The statement includes launching the "Quad Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Package (Q-CHAMP)” under the themes of mitigation and adaptation/resilience. Enhancing knowledge-sharing on subnational climate actions is listed as one of the areas of cooperation under the Q-CHAMP. Details are noted in the “Quad cooperation under Q-CHAMP” as follows:

Knowledge Sharing on Subnational Climate Actions

Quad countries acknowledge the significant role of subnational entities (e.g. states and cities) in the effort toward net-zero. In collaboration with other international frameworks and networks such as C40 and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), Quad countries will establish Quad Workshop on Subnational Climate Action to encourage information-sharing, provide an opportunity for subnational entities to learn from each other and to facilitate options for city-to-city collaboration by utilising the following frameworks, as necessary: 

• Zero Carbon City International Forum (a series of conferences, including the Forum in 2022 co-hosted by Japan and the United States).
• Global Subnational Zero Carbon Promotion Initiative (a bilateral initiative by Japan and the United States).

Based on the Quad Joint Leaders’ Statement, Quad countries established Quad Workshop on Subnational Climate Action and will hold the first workshop at COP27.