New Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which aligns with the most recent climate science, will be signed by all states and regions in the coming months, recognising the need to substantially reduce emissions over this crucial decade of climate action.

As a commitment document for members, this MoU reflects the leadership of a group that first pushed for greater ambition in the Paris Agreement and is now doing so again ahead of COP26 in Glasgow. As a result, it looks not just at 2050 targets but at the short term actions that all actors must take now to meet them.

he Under2 Coalition has again been named one of the international partnerships with the highest potential for emissions reduction - 3.3-3.9GtCO2e/year by 2030 - by the New Climate Institute. This is equivalent to more than the current annual emissions of the EU and clearly demonstrates the impact that can be made by governments at subnational level.

Under2 Coalition states and regions have already reduced their emissions by 16% on average from their respective base years, even while global emissions rose by around 42% (1990-2015). They are also among the most engaged groups in planning for net zero, with more than 80 governments having taken part in Net Zero Futures, led by the Scottish Government and Bloomberg Philanthropies, and around 40 joining the United Nations’ Race to Zero campaign.

With COP26 on the horizon, and while all eyes are on national governments, state and regional governments are increasingly stepping in and stepping up - showing leadership in the face of the climate crisis. The Under2 Coalition, through its enhanced ambition baseline, will continue to bolster the voices of subnational governments to drive ambitious subnational climate action, deliver the changes that we need to see, and support national governments to step up and act.