London Climate Action Week: A Lightning Rod for ‘Whole Economy’ Action

London Climate Action Week (LCAW) is underway. The week-long forum from 22 to 30 June has gathered a plethora of world-leading experts to support the scaling of climate solutions, particularly to leverage London’s potential as one of the world’s largest financial centres.

To mark the opening of the week, and celebrating their fourth and third year anniversaries, respectively, Race to Zero and Race to Resilience hosted the flagship event, ‘Innovating for Change: Unleashing Private Sector Leadership for Climate Solutions for All.’ The forum focused on mobilizing the skills, scale and ingenuity of the private sector and featured a wealth of success stories from actors such as the Brazilian State of Minas Gerais, Holcim, Natura &Co, and Impax Asset Management - which are boldly innovating towards a resilient, restorative, net zero future.?

Clearly, the global economy is highly interconnected - no sector exists in isolation. Yet, private sector climate action is still often conceptualised as merely changes to their own business practices and processes. The High-Level Champions’ event empowered key actors across society, including business, cities, sub-national actors - to go beyond individual action, by engaging across the whole global economy, for example, decarbonising supply chains in developing economies, collaborating to cut emissions and building resilience across sectors.

COP 29 Champion Announces SME Focus

Speaking at the outset of London Climate Action Week, the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion of the COP 29 Presidency, Nigar Arpadarai announced that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be a key area of focus. SMEs are the backbone of the economy; representing 90% of businesses and more than 50% of employment worldwide. Since smaller enterprises operate at the front line of supply chains, they tend to be more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, their capacity and access to finance needs to be built up to improve resilience.

Speaking at the ‘Innovating for Change’ event, the Champions’ flagship event at LCAW, Nigar Arpadarai, said:

“Global climate success and green transition is only possible with SMEs as a central partner… My campaign will focus on SMEs to help them not only to survive the green transition but also to actively shape it and flourish because of it.”

Nigar also reflected on the potential for SMEs to drive engagement within communities, she added: “Focusing on SMEs gives us a unique opportunity to enhance equity and inclusion. Women, Indigenous Peoples, Youth and other underrepresented groups are often the most entrepreneurial. Therefore, they remain a powerful vehicle for climate action.”

The COP 29 Champion also announced that a new Business and Philanthropy Forum will be hosted at the upcoming COP in Azerbaijan, dedicated to providing finance to meet the needs of climate companies and projects. Nigar Arpadarai added: “Bringing new stakeholders to the table and addressing their needs and unlocking their potential is key to mobilizing the trillions that are needed for the just transition. I want to convene large asset owners, private capital owners, and philanthropy to advance longer-term action and commitments on driving technology and finance solutions.”

No net zero without nature

Razan Al Mubarak , High-Level Champion of the COP 28 Presidency has been appointed Co-Chair of The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) alongside Co-Chair, David Craig. The TNFD Co-Chairs lead the 40-member Taskforce whose mission is to align global reporting standards and build market confidence and capabilities to take action in the face of accelerating nature loss.

Commenting on her appointment, Razan Al Mubarak said:?

“I am honoured to be stepping into the role of Co-Chair of the TNFD at this critical juncture.? COP 28 highlighted that business and finance now accept that climate change and nature loss are not separate challenges, but inextricably linked as integrated plenary systems.?

“We can’t get to net zero without nature. Businesses and financial institutions of all sizes across all sectors and geographies need to start managing their interface with nature as their most important supply chain and value creation partner. I look forward to helping lead the Taskforce’s efforts as we seek to embed the TNFD recommendations in the global corporate reporting architecture, aligned with the commitment of over 190 governments around the world, to Target 15 of the Global Biodiversity Framework.”

The Race To Zero - Mobilising ‘All Hands on Deck’

Guest interview: Professor Thomas Hale, University of Oxford

Dr @Thomas Hale is a Professor at the @Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, where he focuses on how societies can manage global problems effectively and fairly, with a particular emphasis on environmental, economic and health issues.

To mark the fourth anniversary of the Race to Zero , we asked Thomas for his perspective on the Campaign - as a co-lead of its ‘Expert Peer Review Group’ which provides advice to the High-Level Champions on new Partners seeking to join the campaign, develops thought leadership on new-frontiers of net zero and supported the developed of the science-aligned criteria. Thomas also shared insights from his latest book, Long Problems: Climate Change and the Challenge of Governing Across Time , which articulates the potential to build political will, and upgrade our institutions to meet the climate challenge.

How has the Race to Zero evolved?

The Race to Zero has had an extraordinary four years since it launched. In that time, and in large part due to the campaign, the idea of reaching net zero emissions has gone from a scientifically-founded, but abstract global goal - into a concrete target that thousands of entities have set within their operations and value chains. This is a very profound grounding of the global multilateral process into the reality of the lives and day-to-day actions of the engines of our economy.

The active role that non-State entities, such as businesses and local governments, are playing in the climate change regime is one of the most exciting innovations in global governance that we’ve seen. The Race to Zero is at the core of that innovation. The achievements of its members and partners has actually led to the fundamental realization that, to achieve our global emissions reduction goals and build resilience, we need ‘all hands on deck.’ Of course, we need national governments to set clear targets and deliver policy - but implementing that requires all parts of society. This now-mainstream idea is a fundamental shift in our political technology that makes us much more effective now than we previously were in tackling the climate crisis.?

How important is it for companies to align their climate action efforts, with their public advocacy?

We've seen many cases of companies taking impressive voluntary steps towards decarbonisation, but they have not considered how to bring their actions into the mainstream, to ensure that the playing field is levelled for everyone.?

Sometimes this results from an internal disconnect between the political affairs and the sustainability department. Sometimes it actually reveals uncertainty about a company's own commitment to adopt rules to support its decarbonisation, as opposed to the perceived flexibility of a voluntary approach. There's no question that rules are coming. The number of net zero-related regulatory instruments in the G20 countries has grown tenfold since the Paris Agreement was signed.The question is what rules will they be and how quickly will they be put in place??

If you’re a leader on climate change, you will benefit from having better rules sooner, as opposed to operating with weaker rules for longer. The laggards that are intent on slowing the transition benefit most from having weaker rules for longer. A stable trajectory for decarbonisation is in the interests of all businesses, and it’s extremely important for Race to Zero partners to lean into the ‘Fifth P’ - Persuade - through which companies actively support a climate aligned regulatory and policy environment. This is critical to enable all actors to achieve a just net zero transition - helping us to raise up the floor of ambition - as we continue to reach for the stars.??

How can societies govern ‘long problems’ such as climate change?

The main message of my new book is that ‘long problems’, such as climate change, which span more than a generation, are hard - but not impossible, to govern. Many countries govern numerous issues today, where there is a significant time-lag between the problem and the solution, such as pensions, infrastructure investments - as well as climate change. There is massive potential to expand and systemise these approaches.

For example, Wales, UK and Finland have set up a Commissioner for Future Generations and a cross-party Committee for the Future , respectively, which are models designed to represent the ‘shadow interests’ of people who are not yet here - but whose lives will be shaped by our actions now.

It’s critical to understand that governing a long problem, like climate change, is not just possible but, in fact, numerous, innovative ‘political technologies’ are evolving in many different pockets of the world to meet the challenge. By better understanding and systemising these methods, we can empower key players, such as cities, states, regions, to reflect the interests of future and current generations in our policies, procedures and institutions.

This is an excerpt from a longer article, which can be found here .

Breaking down barriers in Bonn

The High-Level Champions and Marrakech Partnership demonstrated the power of whole-of-society collaboration at the recent Bonn Climate Change Conference (SB 60).

The High-Level Champions of the COP 28 and COP 29 Presidencies, respectively, Razan Al Mubarak and Nigar Arpadarai, set out an action oriented agenda; including examples of significant climate action underway across the global economy to advance a just transition away from fossil fuels, accelerate the flow of equitable finance and restore and protect nature.

Simon Stiell, the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary called on the gathering of private actors to “Be bold, and aim high” and underscored the importance of coming together to help break down silos within the climate process.?

The Work Programme for the High-Level Champions and the Marrakech Partnership for 2024 was launched in the beginning of SB 60. It encapsulates the Champions’ and the Marrakech Partnership’s joint commitment to collaboratively drive global climate action, coalesce governments and non-Party stakeholders, and support the implementation of the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Click here for a full SB 60 Summary , and watch the videos linked below showing reflections of Razan Al Mubarak and Nigar Arpadarai , on their time in Bonn.

G7 Flags Food Solutions to ‘Triple Crisis’

World leaders attending the recent G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministerial, in Turin, Italy, reiterated their determination to address the ‘triple global crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.’ The COP 28 UAE Declaration on sustainable agriculture, resilient food systems, and climate action featured in the discussions and referenced in the G7 Communique , as an effective vehicle for transforming systems to protect food security from global supply shocks, caused by climate change, as well as conflicts.

Responding to the G7, Razan Al Mubarak said:

“We know what needs to be done to transform food systems to deliver for people, climate, and the planet. This includes taking action to transition production practices to more nature-friendly, agro-ecological approaches, shift consumption to healthy, sustainable diets, reduce food loss and waste, and protect and restore nature, ensuring no further land conversion for agriculture. We also need to ensure that transition pathways are just and inclusive, appropriate to local contexts and dedicated to ensuring food and nutrition security for all.”

Partners Champion Nature-Positive Cities at ICLEI World Congress in Brazil

This year marks an auspicious moment, with delivery on the three interlinked Rio Conventions - Climate, Desertification and Biodiversity - all of which have sustainable development at the core, with strong overlaps and common actions, especially for nature-based solutions. The High-Level Champions, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability and the Government of the State of S?o Paulo, Brazil, elevated the role of nature positive cities as a pivotal step to enhancing human resilience and strengthening adaptation to climate change, at the recent ICLEI World Congress 2024 .?

According to the Nature Positive Initiative, 44% of global GDP – $31 trillion – generated in cities is at risk from nature loss, and only 37% of the world’s 500 most populous cities have developed a dedicated strategy focused on nature or biodiversity preservation . A vast majority of known climate and biodiversity solutions are located within the boundaries of urban mandates, from green infrastructure, to rainwater harvesting, and urban forests, to name a few. Cities, states and regions play a pivotal role in bridging the divide of the Rio Conventions to achieve a net zero, nature positive world by 2030.

It’s vital that local governments put nature at the heart of the transition plans of cities, states and regions. A call to strengthen linkages between the climate and biodiversity agendas is especially important in this decade as we grapple with the triple planetary crisis. Now more than ever, cities and regions need to rise to this call. But, to truly address the triple planetary crisis and transform into nature positive cities and regions, urban areas need to go beyond just planting trees. It is imperative to restore ecosystems and reduce biodiversity loss, and to ensure that such actions are streamlined with clear adaptation and resilience building efforts.?

“The Biodiversity Plan adopted at COP 15 in Montreal in 2022 set the global goal - we need more biodiversity by 2030 than at the 2020 baseline to set us on target to meet the 2050 vision of “living in harmony with nature”, said Ingrid Cotezee, Director of Biodiversity, Nature & Health at ICLEI, in her closing remarks at the Summit.

To build this capacity in local governments, the High-Level Champions, ICLEI, GCoM, UNEP, UN-Habitat, WRI and sustainability leaders from the State of S?o Paulo launched a working group for the refining of an ‘Urban Nature’ Call to Action and work plan for its launch at the COP 16 Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia, in October.

The nature positive agenda could not be more relevant for S?o Paulo itself, which regularly experiences crippling heatwaves, and water scarcity. In response, the state capital and city of S?o Paulo has pioneered an ambitious ‘Capital Verde’ project to increase green spaces through urban reforestation. The strategy has led to the recent strategic purchase of 212 hectares of land which will be integrated into the Ribeir?o Caulim Linear Park , in the city’s south, which contains a river that provides a vital source of the city’s drinking water.?

The Urban Nature Call to Action will underpin climate and biodiversity targets, in line with clear frameworks for non-Party Stakeholder engagement process under the Conventions, such as the 2030 Climate Solutions . When the Call to Action lands at COP 16, it will provide an important roadmap for all cities across the globe to fight climate impacts and biodiversity loss, and protect human lives and assets.

Race to Resilience Update

RTR celebrates Third Anniversary at London Climate Action Week

Three years after its launch, Race to Resilience stands at 36 Partner initiatives and more than 800 members. Collectively, these partner initiatives have pledged to increase the resilience of 3.2 billion people by 2030 and concrete action plans by partners have reached 2.2 billion people, a 20% increase since 2023.

To mark the three year anniversary of the Campaign and the Resilience Hub, the official home of the campaign annually at COP, an event took place at London Climate Action Week focused on the key gaps to be closed on the road to COP 29, COP 30, and beyond. The event included a fireside chat between our Global Ambassadors , Nigel Topping, COP 26 High-Level Champion,? Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, COP 27 High-Level Champion and Marcia Toledo, Adaptation and Resilience Director from the Climate Champions Team who reflected that critical transformations of our natural, social and economic systems are already unfolding to build a resilient future and we need a-whole-of-society approach.

Partner updates

The International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure (ICSI) is accepting submissions for the third issue of our Climate Resilient Infrastructure report. The? report, which tracks progress on the implementation of the Sharm-El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda outcomes, will be launched at COP 29. Submissions are open until 30 June, more information here.?

Ocean Risk Resilience Action Alliance has partnered with Salesforce, the World Economic Forum, Friends of Ocean Action, The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International to develop the ‘High-Quality Blue Carbon Principles & Guidance’ , a blueprint for creating high-quality blue carbon projects and portfolios.?

Race to Resilience in Action: Solution Stories

Replacing Degraded Land in Suriname with Sustainable Coconut Farms.

Race to Resilience partner Initiative 20×20 is working with a sustainable coconut company, Pomeroon Trading to restore degraded land in Suriname by planting a coconut seedling nursery and planting hardwood trees across a sprawling 1,200-hectare farm leased from the Surinamese government. Learn more about this initiative here.

Coffee, Cocoa, and Conservation: Agroforestry Systems Transform Sierra Nevada National Park

The 20×20 initiative is collaborating with ECOTIERRA in Colombia to transform degraded landscapes through the ‘RioSierra Project’, an ambitious effort in coffee and cocoa agroforestry.?The project aims to revitalize old coffee farms and establish new cocoa agroforestry systems in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park’s buffer zone, securing sustainable livelihoods and enhancing resilience. Learn more here.

Race to Zero Update

Accelerator updates:

This month, as Race to Zero celebrates its fourth anniversary, the campaign welcomes three new Accelerators:?

• Business for Nature , a global group helping governments to adopt and implement nature policies.
• Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC), offering incubation, capacity building and financing for small and medium-sized business climate solutions ventures in Kenya.
• Nexos+1 , a Latin American, membership-based business climate action platform.?

Partner updates:

Over the last four years, the global reach and momentum of the Race to Zero community has continued to grow. Recently, our partner the Climate Action Accelerator (CAA) has welcomed three new members:?

• Swiss Solidarity , a foundation supporting emergency responses in disasters and conflicts
• French national maritime rescue institution, Les Sauveteurs en Mer (SNSM) .
• PATH , a global team of health experts based in Seattle, USA, that is driving for health equity.

Member updates:

• A new report highlights the untapped potential of cities in the Cities Race to Zero in helping to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. Also, former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson has been appointed to lead collaborative efforts between national governments and cities as Special Envoy for Cities in CHAMP (Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships). Read more here.?
• Across Scotland, large and small whisky distillery members of the Scotch Whisky Association are revising their production patterns to achieve efficiency gains.
• Paul Etkins, from University of London (a member of Race to Zero Universities & Colleges ) was interviewed on moving finance currently invested in fossil fuels , to smarter and cleaner investments for a better future.
• The Under2 Coalition has helped states in Peru to develop regenerative ranching principle s, including lessening deforestation and intensive farming; leading the national government to change policy to support regenerative practices.?

• Speedy Hire Plc, the UK’s leading construction equipment hire and specialist service provider, has been accepted into the Exponential Roadmap Initiative .?

In case you missed it

• Call for input by the High-Level Champions open until 31 July 2024 on how to enhance their work and the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action (MPGCA) to accelerate climate action and drive implementation. Full details and questions for consideration are contained in the letter from the High-Level Champions (HLCs) from 4 June 2024.
• The HLCs and MPGCA, in collaboration with the UNFCCC secretariat and its Regional Collaboration Centres, invite non-Party stakeholders across all regions to complete a survey by end of June on priority solutions, specific barriers/challenges and enabling conditions of adaptation and mitigation in the 2030 Climate Solutions framework.
• The NDC Partnership and the UNFCCC secretariat launched the NDC 3.0 Navigator (11 June), an interactive tool to support countries in raising ambition and accelerating the implementation of the next round of national climate plans (or NDCs) to be submitted in early 2025.?
• The Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC), the Marrakech Partnership Finance Group co-focal point,? released guidance on making NDCs investable from the investor perspective (4 June).
• UN-Habitat launched a new report on the urban content of NDCs (5 June), offering analysis and guidance to policymakers and practitioners on urban climate issues such as city-specific climate challenges, opportunities, strategies or data.

Mark your calendar

• London Climate Action Week, ?22-30 June, London, UK
• 26th International Union of Forest Research Organizations World Congress , 23-29 June, Stockholm, Sweden
• European Urban Resilience Forum 2024 , 26-28 June, Valencia, Spain
• Fifth Global Dialogue on Sustainable Ocean Development , 1-5 July, Bali, Jakarta Raya, Indonesia
• International Conference on Afforestation and Reforestation , 2-5 July, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
• World Water Week 2024 , 25-29 August, Stockholm, Sweden
• 79th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), 10-24 September, New York, USA
• GLF Africa 2024: Greening the African Horizon , 17 September, Nairobi, Kenya (and online)
• Summit of the Future , 22-23 September, New York, USA
• New York Climate Week, ?22 – 27 September, New York, USA
• 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns , 1-3 October, Aalborg, Denmark
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Leaders Forum , 8-10 October, Geneva, Switzerland
• United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity COP 16, 21 October - 1 November, Colombia
• UNFCCC COP 29 , 11-24 November, Baku, Azerbaijan
• G20 Summit 2024 , 18-19 November, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification COP 16 , 2-13 December, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia