On World Environment Day, the campaign was launched Race to Zero (“Race to Zero”) by the UK and Chilean Climate Champions (so-called High-Level Climate Champions*), Nigel Topping and Gonzalo Muñoz, respectively. The goal of the campaign is to bring leaders from countries, cities, businesses, investors, academia and civil society as a whole to join the largest coalition of leaders committed to one goal: achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
This morning, at the official campaign launch event, they brought messages for the whole world to join in the race towards a fairer, greener and more resilient future. Nigel Topping called on everyone, civil society, companies and governments, to join forces in the pursuit of greater ambition that will bring rapid and effective results. These actors have the ability to mobilize allies and resources (human, financial and more) to pressure governments to disclose their increasingly ambitious reduction targets and with clarity about the steps to achieve them. But, more than that, they are also important actors in driving the agenda and values around the world.
“The pandemic is the most urgent challenge today, but climate change is the most urgent challenge facing humanity as a whole.” – Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC
There are concerns that the current pandemic crisis will delay the advancement of political efforts to combat climate change. “The climate emergency did not stop with the Covid-19 epidemic,” warned Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC. The planet had its second hottest year in history in 2019. And there are no signs of changing. The recovery needs to be sustainable and inclusive and it can bring great opportunities for a better return, with the creation of green jobs after the Covid-19 epidemic, argued Minister Carolina Schmidt, President of COP25.
One of the most urgent actions is the review and greater ambition of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which set targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions for each country. The targets set out in the NDCs offer opportunities for transparency and to indicate the path for governments to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. This is why it is so important that progress continues even during the Covid-19 crisis that we are currently experiencing.
“Sustainability is not an option; it is the only way to secure the future.” – Carolina Schmidt, President of COP25
To create extra momentum around climate change for a decarbonized economy and in the lead-up to the next UN Climate Conference, COP26, organizations committed to reducing their emissions can participate in this initiative.
More information at the link: https://unfccc.int/climate-action/race-to-zero-campaign
The list of criteria is available at this link: https://4bafc222-18ee-4db3-b866-67628513159f.filesusr.com/ugd/6d11e7_347e267a4a794cd586b1420404e11a57.pdf
*Champions engage state and non-state actors around the world to raise climate ambition and bridge the gap with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
