Dr Champa Patel joins Climate Group as Executive Director for Governments and Policy
Climate Group is thrilled to have appointed Dr Champa Patel to drive its extensive programmatic and policy work with governments. Dr Patel will focus on the vital role governments at all levels can and must play in tackling the climate crisis and the need for closer cooperation to find effective solutions.
In this position Dr Patel will also lead the organisation’s work as secretariat of the Under2 Coalition, the largest group of subnational actors committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050 or earlier. The coalition was named one of the international cooperative initiatives with the highest potential for emissions reductions – up to 3.9 GtCO2e per year in 2030 compared to a scenario based on current national policies (NewClimate Institute et al., 2021).
Dr Patel said:
“I’m excited to be joining the Climate Group team at such a critical time. Tackling the climate crisis needs bold and urgent action from every part of society and every level of government. It’s still possible for the world to pull back from catastrophic temperature rises, but that means finding common solutions, fast. Building on the great work that state and regional governments are already doing, I’m looking forward to finding new ways to join up and amplify progress across our whole network to bring about the positive change we all need.”
Climate Group aims to drive climate action, fast, through its extensive networks of governments and businesses. This acts as a key lever in shifting global policies and markets towards more ambitious emission reductions.
Helen Clarkson, CEO of Climate Group, said:
“It’s fantastic to welcome Champa to Climate Group. She brings a wealth of expertise in dealing with complex policy challenges, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Her background will be invaluable in strengthening our work with governments across the world, so that we can drive an even greater impact in reducing emissions, breaking down policy barriers, pushing forward innovative solutions and limiting the devastating results of the greatest challenge of our era, that of climate change."
Before joining Climate Group, Champa was Director of Innovation at International Crisis Group. In this role, she was responsible for research and advocacy on climate, tech and economic aspects of conflict. Champa was formerly Director of the Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House managing policy research on the region. Before joining Chatham House she held several roles at Amnesty International, including as the Regional Director for the South Asia and South East Asia and Pacific Offices, and Global Director for Campaigns overseeing human rights research, campaigns, policy and advocacy.
About Climate Group
Climate Group’s mission is to drive climate action, fast. We do this by bringing together powerful networks of business and governments that shift global markets and policies. We focus on the greatest global opportunities for change, take innovation and solutions to scale, and build ambition and pace. We are an international non-profit organization, founded in 2004, with offices in London, Amsterdam, Beijing, New Delhi and New York.
Visit TheClimateGroup.org and follow us on Twitter @ClimateGroup and Facebook @TheClimateGroup.
About the Under2 Coalition
The Under2 Coalition is the largest global network of states, regions, provinces and other subnational governments committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 or earlier.
