COP26 - How to join the Race to Zero

26th March 2021


Web p9 cop26 istock 174779656

Related Topics

Author

IEMA

In the build-up to COP26, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Race to Zero campaign (racetozero.unfccc.int) is gaining real traction and mobilising commitments. Unlike other races, it can be joined at any stage. How is it going?

Race To Zero is a global campaign to rally climate leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, investors and universities. It mobilises a coalition of leading net-zero initiatives, already making up more than 12% of the global economy. These ‘real economy’ actors join 120 countries in the largest ever alliance committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

There are a number of options for joining. A company can join one of the Partner Initiatives (listed below). Large organisations using science-based targets may sign up to Business Ambition for 1.5˚C (bit.ly/3sCZFFf), and smaller ones the SME Climate Hub (smeclimatehub.org). All the Partners require that their members fulfil Race to Zero meta-criteria (bit.ly/3bQCPTS).

  • Pledge: Pledge at the head-of-organisation level to reach (net-)zero by mid-century at the latest, in line with global efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.
  • Plan: Explain what steps will be taken toward achieving net zero, especially in the short-to-medium-term. Set an interim target to achieve in the next decade, which reflects a fair share of the 50% global reduction in CO2 by 2030 identified in the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C.
  • Proceed: Take immediate action toward achieving net zero, consistent with delivering interim targets.
  • Publish: Commit to report progress at least annually, including via platforms that feed into the UNFCCC Global Climate Action Portal.

The Race can be joined through:

  • Businesses: Business Ambition for 1.5°C, B Corporation, Business Declares, The Climate Pledge, SME Climate Hub, Exponential Roadmap Initiative, and Pledge to Net Zero.
  • Chambers of Commerce: International Chamber of Commerce‘s Chambers Climate Coalition.
  • Cities: Cities Race to Zero, ICLEI’s Carbon Neutrality Framework.
  • Sectoral initiatives: Health Care Without Harm, Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, Water UK, and International Wineries for Climate Action.
  • Investors: UN-convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance, Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative (pending approval).
  • Regions/States: Under2Coalition.
  • Country-wide: Japan Climate Initiative’s Race to Zero Circle.
  • Universities: Global Universities and Colleges for the Climate, Second Nature.

Pledge To Net Zero (bit.ly/2OaI5JI), an initiative tackling greenhouse gas emissions within the UK environmental services sector, has formally joined the main UNFCCC Race to Zero campaign. Around 80% of UK environmental consulting market is already part of Pledge To Net Zero, launched in late 2019 to convene fast climate action in the UK’s environmental sector.

Image credit: iStock

Subscribe

Subscribe to IEMA's newsletters to receive timely articles, expert opinions, event announcements, and much more, directly in your inbox.


Transform articles

Facing the climate emergency challenge in local government

It’s well recognised that the public sector has the opportunity to work towards a national net-zero landscape that goes well beyond improving on its own performance; it can also influence through procurement and can direct through policy.

19th March 2024

Read more

The UK government’s carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) strategy is based on optimistic techno-economic assumptions that are now outdated, Carbon Tracker has warned.

13th March 2024

Read more

The UK’s new biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements could create 15,000 hectares of woodlands, heath, grasslands, and wetlands and absorb 650,000 tonnes of carbon each year.

13th March 2024

Read more

The UK government’s latest Public Attitudes Tracker has found broad support for efforts to tackle climate change, although there are significant concerns that bills will rise.

13th March 2024

Read more

Multinational corporations are undermining their net-zero commitments with excessive air travel and no plans to reduce ‘the low hanging fruit’ of carbon footprints, a study by Transport & Environment has found.

13th March 2024

Read more

The UK government’s climate adaptation plans are ‘inadequate’ and falling ‘far short’ of what is required, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) has warned today.

13th March 2024

Read more

Large businesses across the world are avoiding climate action due to fear they will be called out for getting their work wrong, according to a new Carbon Trust report.

29th February 2024

Read more

A thought-provoking discussion on how storytelling can change the world took place in Central London last night, alongside an exclusive sneak preview of an upcoming IEMA film series.

29th February 2024

Read more

Media enquires

Looking for an expert to speak at an event or comment on an item in the news?

Find an expert

IEMA Cookie Notice

Clicking the ‘Accept all’ button means you are accepting analytics and third-party cookies. Our website uses necessary cookies which are required in order to make our website work. In addition to these, we use analytics and third-party cookies to optimise site functionality and give you the best possible experience. To control which cookies are set, click ‘Settings’. To learn more about cookies, how we use them on our website and how to change your cookie settings please view our cookie policy.

Manage cookie settings

Our use of cookies

You can learn more detailed information in our cookie policy.

Some cookies are essential, but non-essential cookies help us to improve the experience on our site by providing insights into how the site is being used. To maintain privacy management, this relies on cookie identifiers. Resetting or deleting your browser cookies will reset these preferences.

Essential cookies

These are cookies that are required for the operation of our website. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of our website.

Analytics cookies

These cookies allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors to our website and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our website works.

Advertising cookies

These cookies allow us to tailor advertising to you based on your interests. If you do not accept these cookies, you will still see adverts, but these will be more generic.

Save and close