The COP29 Champion’s campaign, Impact Makers, will spotlight and scale innovative climate action from diverse leaders and innovators from across the world
The UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP29, Nigar Arpadarai, today announces the launch of Impact Makers, a global campaign dedicated to shining a light on effective climate action, highlighting diverse innovators and their tangible solutions across regions, industries, and communities.
From social entrepreneurs, to community leaders, to startups, Impact Makers will showcase a range of impactful projects that prove that reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping people adapt to the realities of climate change is possible and change is already underway at speed and scale.
Up to 50 Impact Makers will be selected on a rolling basis and profiled at Climate Week New York City and COP29 in Azerbaijan, as well as online across a dedicated webpage and exhibition. The campaign will also continue to grow through to COP30, taking place in Brazil in 2025.
Impact Makers aims to foster solidarity and inspire others to innovate and advance solutions across key areas such as energy, transport, industry, land use, ocean and coastal zones, water and human settlements – all focus areas of the Marrakech Partnership, a global network of organisations mobilizing stronger and more ambitious climate action.
Impact Maker nominations will be put forward by a diverse Steering Committee composed of expert international research institutes, climate resilience networks, social impact organizations and communications platforms. Impact Makers will be recommended for their innovation, resourcefulness and communications skills, as well as the impact and scalability of their initiative.
A social media activation across LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and X will also ensure the campaign is far-reaching, inclusive and accessible. Anyone is encouraged to share a ‘before and after’ of a compelling climate action initiative with the hashtag #COP29ImpactMakers, showing through photos or video how the initiative started, how it’s going and what the nominated Impact Maker did to drive effective climate action in their company, community, or city.
“Climate change is a global challenge requiring a global response. It also presents the opportunity of a lifetime to create a fairer world for future generations and leave a legacy of which we can be proud,“ explains UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP29, Nigar Arpadarai.
“While serving as COP29 High-Level Champion, I’ve met countless people who have inspired me, given me hope for the future, and filled me with renewed determination to do all that I can in the fight against climate change. Through the Impact Makers campaign, I want to share stories of these incredible people with the world, so we are all inspired to make our contribution in driving the collective good.”
The first Impact Makers will be selected and profiled at the campaign’s official kick-off event on 23 September, during Climate Week New York City.