14th Petersberg Climate Dialogue; IMO Regulation & Green Corridors; Outrage & Optimism; Finance for Forests; Race to Zero / Race to Resilience Updates
High-Level Climate Champions
H.E. Ms. Razan Al Mubarak and Ms. Nigar Arpadarai are the High-Level Climate Champions for #COP28 and #COP29.
High-Level Champion sets out ambitious COP 28 vision at 14th Petersberg Climate Dialogue
Speaking at this month’s Petersberg Climate Dialogue, Her Excellency Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for the COP 28 Presidency, called for collaboration between governmental and business stakeholders to halve emissions, reduce biodiversity loss, address resilience and advance equity.?
The meeting has been hosted annually by the German Government in collaboration with the incoming Presidency of the UNFCCC Conference of Parties and attended by representatives of more than 40 countries since 2009. It plays an integral role in laying the groundwork for the upcoming COP in Dubai this November. In her opening address, H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak outlined her ambitious vision shared by Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, fellow High-Level Champion for the COP 27 Presidency to accelerate non-Party stakeholder action and engagement ahead of COP 28.?
H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak said: “To really mobilise change this year, three of the most powerful things we can do is to embrace nature positive action, mobilise finance at scale, and be truly inclusive - ensuring that women, youth and indigenous peoples are leading our discussions.”?
With six months until COP 28, H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak underlined that non-Party stakeholders are already driving significant cross-sector climate action - delivering tangible progress on decarbonisation as well as adaptation and financial flows. For example, the following milestones and actions, activated through the Marrakech Partnership, provide a framework to deliver our goals for this decade.
H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak also stressed the unique opportunity for the first Global Stocktake, which will be concluded at COP 28 “...to put action and solutions at the heart of our discussions”, course-correct climate action towards 2030 and strengthen collaboration between non-State and country entities - towards a net zero, resilient, and just world.
H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak’s speech can be watched here .
Virtual meeting of High-Level Champions and Marrakech Partnership?
At the Marrakech Partnership meeting earlier this month, the High-Level Champions?and over 90 partnership stakeholders held a fruitful discussion on the 2023 Work Programme , progress on adaptation, finance, and mitigation, as well as the upcoming SB 58 sessions in June in Bonn, Germany.?
The Champions conveyed the acknowledgement and interest of Parties from the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in the important work of non-Party stakeholders within the Marrakech Partnership. The group underscored the integral role of the Global Stocktake for accelerating progress towards a 1.5 °C resilient world by 2050 and emphasised their readiness to openly share progress, gaps and challenges, as well as opportunities in order to activate the ambition loop and collaboration with Parties in the lead up to COP 28 and beyond. Against this background, the High-Level Champions highlighted the importance of referring to the relevant work existing in the Climate Action Pathways, Sharm El Sheikh Adaptation Agenda and 2030 Breakthrough to identify relevant solutions for the Global Stocktake conclusion phase at COP 28.?
Upcoming IMO Regulation Can Catalyse an Equitable Maritime Transition
The marine sector is seven weeks away from a crucial watershed, as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) will consider its revised GHG strategy which must align shipping with a 1.5oC trajectory, at the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 80, 3 - 7 July).?
It is hard to overstate the importance of the strategy for society’s response to climate change. The IMO intends to set out a regulatory framework and transitional path capable of decarbonizing the world’s sixth largest emitting industry, the shipping sector, responsible for three per cent of global GHG emissions and projected to increase without intervention.
The transition promises to unlock major market opportunities. For example, a key lever introduced outside the IMO at COP 26 to decarbonise shipping is ‘Green Corridors ’, which are zero-emission maritime routes between ports, within which operators will be incentivized for meeting emissions standards.?
However, the opportunity for Small Island Developing States to adopt clean innovation at scale, to access green corridors, is less clear - as capital is typically scarce in regions such as the South Pacific.?
To drive progress, the High-Level Champions; plus Race to Zero members Bureau Veritas and Lloyd's Register; along with key climate delivery partners; Getting to Zero Coalition; UN Foundation; The Aspen Institute; and Maersk Mckinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping; recently held a Green Corridors event at Singapore Maritime Week. The event shared key learnings so far and discussed the gaps blocking implementation of durable, equitable and resilient Green Corridors.??
In this article , Asela Peneueta, from the Pacific Island country, Tuvalu, speaks frankly on the economic barriers that should be unblocked to realise the new business opportunities and socioeconomic benefits of Green Corridors.
Outrage & Optimism - H.E. Razan Al Mubarak on Climate & Nature: One & the Same
H.E Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for the COP 28 Presidency joined the Outrage + Optimism podcast in the recent episode, ‘Climate and Nature: One and the Same ’.
You can hear Ms. H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak discuss her journey to her current role and her passionate belief in the integral role of nature as a solution to the climate crisis with hosts Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac & Paul Dickinson.
For a short video preview, click here .?
Banks Gather to Action Finance for Forests
At last week’s UN Forum on Forests (UNFF18) senior representatives of multilateral and regional funding institutions and banks gathered to share learnings on raising the necessary finance to achieve the Global Forest Goals - to halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation by 2030. For example, a representative from the African Development Bank (AfDB) shared how they are supporting forest restoration policy interventions to build a green economy.?
Through the Africa Union’s Great Green Wall initiative , the AfDB seeks to plant trees across 11 African countries in the Sahel and Sahara Regions, while also leading efforts to mobilize $33 billion to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land; create 10 million jobs and sequester 250 tons of carbon. Over $8.5 billion were mobilized through the African Development Fund in the 2023-2025 financing cycle, including a $429 million ‘Climate Action Window’ package.????
“Africa’s forest will play an essential role in the Continent’s and the planet’s survival,” commented Vanessa Ushie, Acting Director of the African Natural Resources Management and Investment Centre at the AfDB.?
Elsewhere, the potential for rural communities to lead sustainable land management is growing through Race to Resilience partner, Global EverGreening Alliance’s Restore Africa programme. The Kenya-based programme, which turns one year old this month, is the world’s largest privately-funded, farmer-led land restoration initiative programme. It has committed to restore 1.9 million hectares of land, equating to supporting 1.5 million African smallholder farming families. Restore Africa is also a major contributor to the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100), which aims to bring at least 100 million hectares of degraded land under restoration by 2030.
For further information, Ms. Juliette Biao, UNFF Forum Director and UNEP’s former Director and Regional Representative for Africa, shares her views on sustainable forest management here .
Race to Zero latest developments:?
Built Environment Players Assemble for Sector Transition
In April alone, six new companies within the Built Environment sector joined the Race to Zero, including Kerry Properties Limited, a Hong Kong-based real estate company; and Daito Trust Construction Co. Ltd., a Japanese real estate company. These major companies promise to contribute significantly to the sector’s efforts to achieve net zero emissions.?
Despite the positive signals of change, currently, the Built Environment sector is not on track to achieve decarbonization by 2050. UNEP’s 2022 Buildings Global Status Report shows that while decarbonization efforts have increased since 2015, the gap between the climate performance of the sector and the decarbonization pathway is widening.
Our Built Environment team’s tracking of the progress of ‘major’ businesses in the Race to Zero campaign has found varying representation across sectoral stakeholder groups, which is likely to act as a barrier for the sector. Across the four sectoral groups, including architects and engineers, construction companies, real estate investment companies, and asset managers, nearly half (49%) of major architects and engineers by revenue have joined the campaign, while only 16% of major construction companies, by revenue, have joined.?
To address this shortfall, we need radical collaboration across the value chain. The upcoming ‘Buildings Breakthrough ,’ due for launch ahead of COP 28, will provide a forum for international government collaboration to make near-zero emission and resilient buildings the new normal by 2030.?
All buildings will be affected by climate change-induced impacts, such as flooding, extreme heat and wildfires. To meet this challenge, the Sharm-El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda sets out five outcomes to advance the resilience of human settlements by 2030. These include ensuring that at least one billion people live in decent, safe homes, an effort catalysed by the Roof Over our Heads campaign, part of Race to Resilience - with basic, essential community services. Achieving these outcomes by 2030 requires careful planning, funding, and smart policymaking, plus collaboration between urban planners, architects, construction companies, property owners and investors. Key to unlocking this action is ensuring the physical risks of climate change are priced into investment decisions and UNEP’s Finance Sector Briefing shows a working group of over 50 major banks, investors and insurers have a developed understanding of the physical and transitional risks of real estate.
Who’s In The Race to Zero??
To date, an alliance of 12,000+ Race to Zero members have committed to net zero by 2050, comprising:?
All members of the Race to Zero are committed to the same overarching goal: to reduce emissions, across all scopes, swiftly and fairly in line with the Paris Agreement, with transparent action plans and robust near-term targets . Together they form the largest, growing, alliance of non-State actors committed to taking rigorous and immediate action to halve global emissions by 2030, and to deliver a healthier, fairer zero carbon world by 2050.?
Have you explored who’s in the Race to Zero from your sector, country, or region? Check out our refreshed 'Who's in? ' section.?
Upgrading Hotels for Net Zero Travel
Race to Zero member, Staze is a hotel booking platform dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of the hotel industry, by empowering individuals to choose hotels around the world with lower carbon footprints - for free. Businesses that use Staze have reduced their carbon footprint from hotel stays by up to 70%.
As a member of the Tech Zero coalition of companies, Staze has pledged to achieve net zero, in line with the Science Based Targets Initiative Net Zero Standard, by 2028. The company uses its profits to offset the carbon footprint of hotels booked through its site, using verified projects that align with the Oxford Principles for Aligned Net Zero Carbon Offsetting.
Race to Resilience latest developments:?
领英推荐
This year we formally welcomed two new partners to the Race:
1. Sanitation and Water for All (SWA), a global partnership to achieve universal access to clean water and adequate sanitation.
2. The Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), an alliance between member states, philanthropy, financial institutions and United Nations agencies, who are collaborating to establish a new paradigm for ocean conservation. Through blended finance, they are mobilising action and resources to protect and restore coral reef ecosystems worldwide.
Today the Race to Resilience (RtR) campaign has a total of 36 partners working with more than 2,000 members to build the resilience of those most vulnerable to the climate crisis. Our ultimate goal is to mobilise cities, regions, businesses and investors and civil society to build the resilience of four billion people.?
News from the RtR Methodological Advisory Group (MAG)?
The campaign is currently in the process of selecting new members to the Methodological Advisory Group (MAG) after an Open Call for Nominations. The MAG advises the development and refinement of the RtR Metrics Framework and the methodological processes associated with its application, aiming to ensure the credibility, transparency, and robustness of the RtR campaign.?
Stay tuned for the announcement of the new members.?
Roof Over our Heads
A flagship campaign of Race to Resilience with the goal to deliver resilient, affordable, low carbon homes for two billion people by 2050, will be hosting its first Roundtable in the LAC Region, to explore new partnerships for locally driven action. The Roundtable will take place on the 31 May online with the special participation of TECHO.
Don’t miss the following events led by RtR Partners:
Resilience Finance Days Latin America and the Caribbean?
25-26 May.
More info
Insurance Development Forum Summit 2023
1- 2 June
More info
Keeping up with the Champions
H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak gave an opening address to government Ministers and representatives at the 14th Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin. H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak underlined the significant work that non-Party stakeholders are doing to accelerate progress towards a net zero and resilient world by 2050.
Recently, Mohieldin, co-chaired the first 2023 meeting of the ‘GFANZ Africa ’ network advisory board. Promising financing opportunities are expected to arise this year from the African Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI) and the upcoming second round of the Africa Regional Forum, in partnership with the UN Economic Commission for Africa.?
H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak appears as the guest for the recent episode of the podcast Outrage + Optimism: ‘Climate and Nature: One and the Same ’.
Mohieldin and UN Special Envoy on Financing 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, met with Major General Abdel Hamid Al-Haggan, Governor of Qalyubia, Egypt, to discuss the region’s involvement in the ‘National Initiative for Smart Green Projects .’ The initiative, which launched prior to COP 27, has been designed to increase competitiveness among clean technology development projects, and to drive investment in Egyptian cities and governorates.?
H.E. Razan Al Mubarak addressed more than 20 partners of the nature-based multi-stakeholder coalition Nature4Climate (N4C) . H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak raised the importance of nature within the climate agenda, in the context of the Global Stocktake.
H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak also highlighted the role for the coalition to support the COP 28 Presidency’s aim to integrate nature into all workstreams, from energy and industry; cities, transport and waste; land, oceans, water and food; societies, to people and livelihoods.
During the 11th conference of Ain Shams University, Cairo, which was held under the auspices and presence of Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini, President of Ain Shams University, Mohieldin received the honorary doctorate degree for his remarkable local and international contributions in the field of economics.
H.E. Razan Al Mubarak attended the ‘Make it Sustainable’ Forum, organized by the UAE’s Ajman University, in partnership with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
The event focused on the role of Higher Education institutions in promoting sustainability and climate action. In this context, H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak called for bold solutions to be created by the UAE youth community - for the UAE community. H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak also highlighted the role of the COP 28 Youth Climate Champion, Her Excellency Shamma Al Mazrui, whose role is to ensure that youth have a say in decisions made that will impact their future.?
Mohieldin facilitated a two-day virtual meeting with over 100 current and prospective contributors to the Green Climate Fund (GCF);? the world’s largest climate fund mandated to support low emission, climate-resilient development pathways.?
The meeting discussed the process for the second replenishment of the Fund for developing countries, specifically to fund implementation between 2024 – 2027. At the meeting, Mohieldin reminded participants of the urgency of the climate crisis and of the importance of supporting the GCF to keep climate action alive.?
On the Road to COP 28 and the IMF-WB Fall Meetings, the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) hosted a High-Level Policy Roundtable on climate finance to achieve sustainable development.?
In the meeting, Mohieldin emphasised that developing countries do not have the luxury of excluding any means of financing climate action. This underlines the importance of activating carbon trade, while ensuring that trading actually mitigates emissions, rather than just transferring emissions from seller to buyer.
At the IsDB Annual Meetings, Mahmoud Mohieldin spoke on the theme of “Key Achievements of the G20 Indonesian Presidency (2022): The Case of Energy Transition and Climate.” In the meeting, Mohieldin highlighted a range of promising partnership models between the public and private sectors in Egypt, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. He also stressed that “fair and adequate financing, technological solutions, knowledge exchange and behavioural change” are indispensable for the success of the development and climate agenda.
The High-Level Champion commended the support of the G20 for the decisions of the Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Change Conference, especially with regards to the launch of the Loss and Damage Fund and the launch of the Sharm El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda, which includes five main areas of action: food and agriculture, water and nature, coasts and oceans, human settlements, and infrastructure.
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