Meet Gator Halpern, Co-founder and President of Coral Vita, who’s scaling coral restoration to combat ocean warming. By cultivating resilient corals in high-tech farms, Coral Vita restores damaged reefs in the Bahamas and beyond, safeguarding biodiversity and supporting local economies.
Women are at the forefront of tackling the climate crisis, bringing unique perspectives to drive equity and resilience. This feature highlights eight inspiring leaders proving that inclusive climate action is essential in our race to a better world.
Meet Dr. Allen Hershkowitz, whose work is transforming how sports and culture can contribute to a more sustainable world. As the environmental adviser to the New York Yankees, NBA, and Broadway, Allen is helping iconic institutions engage millions in the climate conversation, setting new standards for environmental action in these influential spaces.
Meet Rajesh Shah, Managing Trustee of VIKAS Centre for Development, championing community-led climate resilience through the Great Green Wall of Gujarat. Rajesh’s initiative empowers marginalized communities to restore coastal ecosystems while creating sustainable livelihoods.
Discover why a balanced strategy that includes so-called “Avoid” and “Shift” measures is needed to truly decarbonize transport.
Over the last 20-years, my sustainability career has intersected three industries at the centre of climate action: policy, finance, and technology. Much like a team, these sectors work together, each with their unique strengths to drive climate progress at scale. But before I entered the field professionally, I began learning about sustainability and environmental protection […]
Meet Deepa Lama, Co-founder and President of Kalpavaatika Society Nepal, who is championing urban sustainability by transforming kitchen waste into compost and using rooftops for farming in Kathmandu. Her project, “Enhancing Urban Sustainability through Nature-based Solutions,” empowers over 500 community members to address waste management and food security challenges by composting organic waste and cultivating rooftop gardens.
Meet Nduka Miracle, Co-founder and Director at Kitovu Technology Company, who’s transforming Africa’s agriculture sector through climate-smart solutions for smallholder farmers. Kitovu’s innovations empower farmers to boost productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, and cut emissions – paving the way for resilient, sustainable farming across Africa.
Meet Zeinaba Narabene, President of Réseau des Jeunes Sahéliens pour le Climat au Mali (RJSCLIM), who is leading the Green Schools Project to embed environmental education in schools across Mali. Through her GreenKids initiative, Zeinaba is empowering young students to understand and act on climate issues in their communities.
Meet Angela Chaudhuri, CEO & Chief Catalyst of global health organization, Swasti, who is redefining how communities, especially the most vulnerable, respond to climate-driven health risks through real-time data insights.
Daniel D’Elia da Costa, Finance Youth Fellow with the Climate Champions Team, shares his perspective on the critical intersection of climate finance and biodiversity as we look beyond COP29. Reflecting on recent global climate events, Daniel highlights the role of the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action in mobilizing capital for nature-based solutions and building bridges between project developers and financiers. With Brazil’s upcoming role as COP30 host, Daniel envisions a future where financial stakeholders champion both climate and biodiversity goals, transforming regional challenges into global opportunities for sustainable growth.
In a world where “systems change” is frequently cited as essential for tackling global challenges, what does the term truly mean? Why do we refer to these structures as “systems,” and what does transforming them actually entail? Richard Shen, Climate Champions Systems Transformation Youth Fellow, explores these questions through a nuanced perspective on green demand and systems thinking.
Meet Franny Collingham, founder of Wild Clouds, a sustainable fashion brand dedicated to reimagining design and production with sustainability at its core. Driven by a commitment to ethical practices, Franny ensures every detail – from compostable fabrics to plastic-free trims – reflects her vision of thoughtful, low-impact fashion.
Meet Impact Maker Ragy Ramadan Ahmed Shehata, Founder & CEO of NoorNation in Cairo, Egypt. Discover his journey to deliver innovative climate solutions like LifeBox, bringing clean energy and safe water to underserved communities across Africa.
Meet Shelly Jarina Kerketta, who’s empowering rural India through clean energy. With her project, the Clean Energy-based Micro Enterprise Development project, Shelly’s helping build resilient businesses, enhance agricultural productivity, and reduce reliance on harmful fuels like kerosene.
Meet Khaled Noby Mohamed, Executive Director of Nature Conservation Egypt (NCE), where he’s working to balance renewable energy growth with biodiversity protection in Egypt. As renewable energy projects expand, Khaled is leading critical efforts to safeguard Egypt’s unique ecosystems, from migratory birds to vulnerable native species.
Meet Gilberto Ribeiro, Partner and CIO of VOX Capital, leading climate finance innovations for sustainable energy and land use in Brazil. Gilberto’s work mobilizes funds to address Brazil’s environmental challenges, from deforestation to sustainable agriculture.
Race to Resilience Youth Fellow, Ferdison Valmond, explains how inclusive climate action can create a more resilient and sustainable world. Valmond highlights the campaign’s commitment to empowering underrepresented groups to ensure they play an active role in shaping climate resilience efforts.
Climate Champions’ Youth Fellow, Amal Ridene sheds light on scaling adaptation finance at COP29, where adaptation funding and private sector engagement are central to closing the climate resilience gap. As finance remains underfunded, COP29 offers new opportunities for impactful investment in adaptation.
Meet Ramil Azmammadov, CEO of Dr. Agro, who’s empowering Azerbaijani farmers to make data-driven decisions for sustainable yields. Dr. Agro’s platform equips farmers with tools for crop planning, budgeting, disease alerts, and climate insights – helping them navigate challenges and increase productivity.
Meet Pablo Castellanos Ramelli, Co-founder and COO of BATx, who’s transforming energy sustainability in Latin America by giving EV batteries a second life. Through repair, refurbishment, and repurposing, his initiative is reducing waste, creating economic opportunities, and advancing a circular economy in Colombia and beyond.
Meet Fany Kuiru, General Coordinator of COICA and the first woman to lead the Amazon’s largest Indigenous coalition. Fany spearheaded the Amazon for Life Fund to empower Indigenous communities by supporting sustainable, self-determined projects across the Amazon Basin.
Meet Helmy Abouleish, CEO of SEKEM, promoting biodynamic farming for sustainable agriculture in Egypt. Through the Economy of Love (EoL) standard, Helmy is transforming agriculture, supporting smallholder farmers to adopt sustainable practices while generating new income streams through carbon credits.
Meet David Henry – Co-founder of ReThink Youth and CEO of Strategy Reloaded, and a dedicated advocate for sustainable agriculture in Saint Lucia.
Through the Vetiver Smart Farms initiative, David is equipping local farmers with regenerative agriculture techniques to strengthen land resilience, increase crop yields, and empower communities in the face of climate challenges
Cities, Indigenous groups, businesses, and organizations across regions are advancing inclusive, nature-positive climate solutions to help make a net-zero future achievable by 2050, according to a new report by the Marrakech Partnership, UN Climate Change and the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions.
Driving the transition to cleaner, greener transport solutions in Bangladesh
Building climate resilience for the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians
The Integrated Rice and Shrimp Farming initiative in the Mekong Delta brings together farmers, businesses, civil society, and local governments to implement a nature-positive solution aimed at improving agricultural sustainability and climate resilience.
Brian Unsted, Lead Specialist for Environmental Sustainability at Liberty 2 Degrees, shares his journey from working in finance to driving sustainability in South Africa’s real estate sector. Learn how L2D is cutting carbon emissions, transforming waste management, and leveraging solar energy to achieve ambitious net zero goals, and why Brian believes that embracing change is key to overcoming the challenges of climate action.
Learn how Asha Juma Khamis and Asha Bakar Mtwana, marine rangers supported by the Global Fund for Coral Reefs, are transforming Pemba’s coral reefs and enhancing community resilience as part of the Race to Resilience.
Beatriz Arribas, Sustainability Senior Manager at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, shares her career journey where she’s seen sustainability move from the periphery to the core of business strategy.
Supported by Race to Resilience partner, GAYO, the “Water for Adaptation and Period Poverty” (W4APP) project, operating in the Kassena Nankana West and East districts, is helping improve access to water, food security, and education.
Women in Machakos County, Kenya, are leading grassroots efforts to strengthen climate resilience. Discover how local networks and sustainable farming practices are driving change and inspiring global action as part of the Race to Resilience campaign.
Sony’s Senior Executive VP Shiro Kambe outlines how the company is rethinking innovation to confront the climate crisis. With a target of net zero by 2040, Kambe discusses the challenges and breakthroughs shaping Sony’s approach to sustainability.
Three new regions — Assam (India), Louga (Senegal), and Pernambuco (Brazil) — have joined the Race to Resilience campaign through RegionsAdapt, committing to enhance climate resilience. Discover how these areas are empowering local communities, from rural farming to coastal restoration, to protect their environments and create sustainable futures.
Dr. Peter Graham and Dr. Sunita Purushottam from the Global Buildings Performance Network explain why poorly designed homes are putting millions at risk as temperatures rise. They argue simple, cost-effective design solutions can protect lives and reduce emissions, but governments must act quickly to implement reforms.
Discover how Race to Resilience partner, the InsuResilience Global Partnership, is leading innovative insurance projects across the world that protect millions of vulnerable people from climate-induced disasters.
As part of an ongoing series to support the Climate Champions’ Ocean Breakthroughs, the Edges of Earth expedition team spoke with Connie Crocker (Xwulslim). Connie shared her journey from a childhood immersed in fishing to leading efforts to restore vital kelp forests in British Columbia.
A Madrid-based restaurant, supported by Race to Zero Accelerator, Hostelería #PorElClima, shows that green innovation in the hospitality industry can reduce emissions and save costs.
Discover how Buenos Aires’ water utility, AySA, supported by Race to Resilience partner Sanitation and Water for All, is leading the fight against climate change with innovative strategies that safeguard water supplies for millions
Rising sea levels, more frequent storm surges, and erosion are jeopardising the intricate coastal features and ecosystems that create perfect waves, threatening both the sport and the economies it supports. In response, Race to Resilience partner, the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA), are supporting Save The Waves with their pioneering and innovative insurance model in El Salvador, aimed at protecting precious surf ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
Jit Bhattacharya, co-founder of Kenya-based electric vehicle technology company, BasiGo BasiGo is an electric vehicle technology and financing company dedicated to introducing electric bus services in sub-Saharan Africa. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the company provides state-of-the-art, electric buses, along with charging and maintenance services for city bus operators. We spoke to BasiGo’s co-founder, Silicon-Valley innovator, […]
Discover how LA is tackling extreme heat with innovative strategies and robust infrastructure, ensuring resident safety and comfort ahead of the 2028 Olympics, led by the city’s Chief Heat Officer, Marta Segura.
On International Youth Day 2024 meet the Climate Champions Youth Fellows driving change across the globe. These inspiring young professionals are leading the charge in climate diplomacy, working alongside UN Climate Change High-Level Champions for COP28 and COP29.
The Olympics is a cultural tradition that has spanned more than 3,000 years—but continuing the Games safely will require new approaches, as Jordan Clark, PhD, Senior Policy Associate at the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Duke University explains.
As part of an ongoing series to support the Climate Champions’ Ocean Breakthroughs, the Edges of Earth expedition team met with a woman whose family has been at the centre of Cabo Pulmo for generations —Judith Castro. During their conversation, Judith talked about how she has grown up alongside Cabo Pulmo, sharing the losses and the wins — and how she and her family transformed the oldest coral reef on the west coast of North America.
São Paulo faces increasing threats from climate change. Intense rainfall, prolonged droughts, and unprecedented heatwaves threaten the city, necessitating swift action to ensure a livable and equitable future. Here’s how São Paulo is setting the bar for climate resilience.
Smith College (Massachusetts, U.S.), Strathmore University (Nairobi, Kenya), Tecnológico de Monterrey (Monterrey, Mexico) and Western Sydney University (Sydney, Australia) are universities from across the globe with one thing in common – a commitment to decarbonize and innovate in the race to zero emissions.
Discover the inspiring journey of Chuen in our latest Edges of Earth series, as she navigates the challenges of coastal tourism — one of five key sectors for the Ocean Breakthroughs — while upholding her deep commitment to community and nature.
More and more Race to Zero members — from small businesses to cities — are making the switch from dirty fossil fuels to clean renewables.
Jennifer Morris, CEO of The Nature Conservancy, addresses the urgent need for more innovative climate adaptation strategies. Morris emphasizes transforming stakeholder engagement and enhancing financial support mechanisms, advocating for governance by Indigenous Peoples and local communities. She calls for radical collaboration across governments, businesses, and civil society to address the climate crisis and close the adaptation finance gap swiftly and fairly.
London faces rising flood risks due to climate change. Discover how a plan, supported by Race to Resilience partner Resilience First, aims to enhance flood defenses for 1.4 million people at risk.
An interview with 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 4th anniversary of the Race […]
As London Climate Action Week gets underway, discover the significant role that over 6000 SME members play in the Race to Zero and three inspiring SME members taking bold action.
Discover how VMI is leading the charge in the TV industry’s Race to Zero. From solar panels to electric fleets, learn how the cameral rental company’s sustainability mission is revolutionizing business practices, inspiring its team, and shaping a fairer and healthier future.
Wild Clouds, a sustainable fashion brand founded by Franny Collingham, has committed to achieving net zero emissions as a member of the Race to Zero campaign. Here, Collingham explores the company’s motivations, actions, and progress in the pursuit of environmental sustainability.
Frog Bikes, a company dedicated to creating sustainable children’s bicycles, is on a mission to achieve net zero emissions. Anna Drew, the Head of Strategy & Sustainability, explains how Frog Bikes has embarked on an ambitious journey, as part of the SME Climate Hub and the Race to Zero campaign.
This month marks the fourth anniversary of the Race to Zero campaign, a global campaign to accelerate climate action across diverse sectors. VMI, a leading film and camera rental company, has been part of this journey, setting ambitious net zero targets. Over the past four years, the company has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2030, eliminating single-use plastics, and becoming a net exporter of renewable power. This timeline highlights VMI’s milestones and ongoing efforts in its sustainability journey.
The Climate Champions Team is proud to introduce its fourth cohort of ambitious and stubbornly optimistic Youth Fellows. These seven dynamic young professionals — aged 20 to 29 and hailing from seven countries across four continents — will work within the team supporting the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions for COP28 and COP29, H.E Razan […]
As part of a new series to support the Ocean Breakthroughs, the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions and the Edges of Earth expedition explore how a community is adapting to and combating the impacts of climate change in the capital of Sri Lanka. The Edges of Earth team had the opportunity to spend two weeks living alongside Hafsa Jamel (pictured), learning about their work supporting local nature-based solutions that aim to mitigate climate challenges in their home country.
Race to Resilience partner Initiative 20×20 is working with MIROVA and the SLB Group in Brazil to restore degraded land caused by intensive agriculture in Paraná. This project seeks to rejuvenate 1,400 hectares previously used for intensive farming practices by implementing innovative forestry methods that promise greater biodiversity and environmental sustainability.
As the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States begins, Dr. Adelle Thomas, Climate Adaptation Lead of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and IPCC Vice Chair of Working Group II, emphasizes the critical challenges these nations face due to climate change.
Discover how Race to Resilience partner, Initiative 20×20 is helping 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.
Discover how members of the Scotch Whisky Association, partners to the Race to Zero, are working hard to secure a sustainable future for the Scotch Whisky industry – ensuring its products are produced sustainably, traded globally and enjoyed responsibly.
To celebrate International Day for Women in Maritime 2024, the Climate Champions with Lloyd Register Foundation interviewed women steering maritime onto a cleaner and fairer future. In this interview, Jaeda Simone Sutherland, Project Officer at the Belize Port Authority explains why she’s committed to shaping a brighter, more inclusive future for generations to come.
To celebrate International Day for Women in Maritime 2024, the Climate Champions with Lloyd Register Foundation interviewed women steering maritime onto a cleaner and fairer future. In this interview, Aideé Saucedo Dávila, Technical Officer at the UN International Maritime Organization discusses her work in reducing emissions from international shipping and examining their potential impacts on States.
Race to Resilience partner Initiative 20×20 is working with sustainable coconut company, Pomeroon Trading to restore degraded land in Surinmae by planting a coconut seedling nursery and planting hardwood trees across a sprawling 1,200-hectare farm leased from the Surinamese government.
Discover how Race to Resilience partner, 20×20 is helping transform agriculture in northern Belize by working with organisations that train farmers in regenerative agroforestry practices, enhancing both environmental health and local livelihoods through sustainable crop and tree production.
Learn more about how digital agricultural finance is paving the way for a sustainable and resilient future for Senegal’s rural communities.
As part of our leadership series, discover how CSO of JLL is driving the real estate giant’s Race to Zero and setting the stage for wider adoption in the industry.
As part of the Non-State Actors Call to Action for Transforming Food Systems for People, Nature, and Climate, everyone from farmers and fishers to businesses, cities, civil society, consumers and all those engaged in food systems, are invited to submit “Statements of Action” outlining their part in this transformation. Discover the statements so far submitted below.
As the winners of the 2023 Resilient, Inclusive, and Sustainable Environments (RISE) grants challenge are announced, we take a look back at the transformative work of the 2022 cohort.
Elizabeth Hausler, founder of Race to Resilience partner Build Change, reflects on two decades of pioneering resilient housing solutions worldwide, from retrofitting homes in Haiti to influencing global policy, and setting ambitious goals for the future.
The Kadin Net Zero Hub, an initiative by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin Indonesia), has taken a significant step towards supporting Indonesian businesses in their transition to net zero emissions by joining the Race to Zero campaign as an Accelerator. Race to Zero is the largest campaign, rallying non-State actors to […]
To mark this year’s Earth Day theme of Plastics Vs Planet, Sian Sutherland, Co-Founder, A Plastic Planet & Plastic Health Council, imagines a post-plastic world, abundant with innovation, where true regenerative circularity is achieved.
As the Our Ocean Conference begins in Greece this week, Race to Resilience partner, the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA), underscores the critical need for investments in a regenerative and sustainable blue economy – vital for tackling the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.
Google Chief Sustainability Officer, Kate Brandt explains why a CSO’s daily work is no longer simply confined to decarbonizing a businesses. For Google this means empowering individuals, businesses, organizations and governments with quality information through products and platforms, and by helping drive systems change to accelerate climate action.
In October 2023, Carbon Brief fact-checked 21 of the most common – and persistent – myths about EVs.
Find out if you are eligible for our paid fellowship programme, and apply before 10pm GMT on Wednesday 10th April Young people and future generations are environmental stewards of the future. Many are also leaders and subject matter experts today. The Climate Champions Team, in support of the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, are […]
Learn how a Race to Resilience partner, Scale for Resilience, is empowering women in Latin America to drive climate resilience.
For Egypt’s Nile Delta, a critical area for the country’s agriculture and home to a quarter of its population the impacts of climate change are looming large, posing significant threats to farming, livelihoods and even the national economy. A rise in sea level, as a result of global warming, increases the risk of saltwater intrusion, […]
British fashion designer and founder of Fashion Revolution, Carry Somers discusses the fashion industry’s significant impact on climate change and explores pathways towards achieving net zero emissions.
We spoke to Irene Ojuok, Ambassador, Global Evergreening Alliance and specialist in FMNR (Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration) about our failure to recognise the true value of nature for both people and planet and how this needs to be overcome.
Discover how global healthcare insurer and provider and Race to Zero member, Bupa, is aiming for net zero carbon emissions by 2040.
Partner: YAPU Solutions Implementer: COK Sodality Co-operative Credit Union Country & Region: Jamaica, Caribbean SAA Impact Systems: Human Settlements Impact / Beneficiaries: Members of COK Sodality Co-operative Credit Union, which includes over 275,000 individuals, encompassing Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and low-income households across Jamaica. Jamaica, an island nation celebrated for its breathtaking landscapes […]
Aviva, a member of the Finance Sector Deforestation Action (FSDA) and Race to Zero, explains why ending deforestation is a pre-requisite for both reversing biodiversity loss and meeting net zero targets.
Due to unequal gender norms globally, women are impacted first and worst by climate change, and yet, one of the untold stories is how women in all of their diversity are simultaneously essential actors in local and global solutions. Study after study shows that we must involve women at every level, if we are to […]
How have we got here? The profound question we need to ask as a human family. What has led us into a crisis so monstrous it threatens our existence. Who spoke for our species, determined a worldview where ‘success’ looks like eight men owning the same wealth as half the world, where we have passed […]
Daraja, an early warning system for informal resident systems, has been awarded Bronze in a World Habitat competition to demonstrate exceptional work in providing or promoting access to adequate housing.
Guest interview: Emma Howard Boyd CBE, Chair of the London Climate Resilience Review In January, the London Climate Resilience Review, an independent review commissioned by the Mayor of London, published an interim report. Emma Howard Boyd CBE, the chair of the Review and Race to resilience Global Ambassador shared her insights on the urgent need […]
Race to Zero showcased real economy global progress with the release of its 2023 Progress Report. Under the leadership of 26 Partners and 31 Accelerators, the campaign has nearly doubled in number since COP26, with 13,500 non-state actors from over 145 countries working towards the global halving of emissions by 2030. Race to Zero’s COP28 […]
A fair future demands not only financial commitments but also strategic and inclusive approaches that consider the needs of the present and future alike, argues Karishma Ansaram, Climate Champions’ Finance Youth Fellow.
Tres miembros de la Delegación de la Comunidad de Primera Línea (FCD), María Pedro de Pedro, Briseida Iglesias López de Guerrero y Maricela Fernández Fernández, arrojan luz sobre las realidades urgentes enfrentadas por quienes están más directamente afectados por el cambio climático. Sus historias revelan no sólo los desafíos, sino también la resiliencia y las soluciones encontradas dentro de las comunidades de primera línea.
In this case study JGP Asset Management show how tackling deforestation using active ownership, creative financing, and nature restoration provides a holistic approach to driving the shift towards more sustainable commodity supply chains.
Three members of the Frontline Community Delegation (FCD), Maria Pedro de Pedro, Briseida Iglesias Lopez de Guerrero, and Maricela Fernández Fernández, shed light on the urgent realities faced by those most directly impacted by climate change. Their stories reveal not only the challenges but also the resilience and solutions found within frontline communities.
The momentum for implementing ocean-based policy frameworks at COP28 has become undeniable, which will have a profound impact on the ocean and the people who depend on these ecosystems. Delivering on these solutions will require unprecedented levels of action, cooperation and collaboration, explains Kristina Rodriguez, Oceans & Coastal Zone Fellow.
Andrew Dumbrille & Elissama Menezes from maritime solutions organization, Equal Routes discuss the 2030 Shipping Pact for People and Nature (2030 SPPaN) which envisions a future where sustainable shipping practices benefit nature, people, and the planet, overcoming hurdles through partnerships, accountability measures, and a holistic approach to governance.
The High-Level Champions, as part of our Nature-Postive for Climate Action campaign, are calling on companies, cities, financial institutions, and regions to integrate nature in their climate transition plans and to invest in NbS in line with the nature criteria and leadership practices of Race to Zero.
If we fail to address the crucial links between the climate crisis and nature loss, we jeopardize the future wellbeing and prosperity of people and planet, argues Dr Kirsten Schuijt, Director General, WWF International.
Putting the support and empowerment of women, civil society, youth, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, and the most vulnerable and marginalized communities at the heart of the Race to Resilience is critical to ensuring a just and effective global climate action, says Hajrah Waqas, Climate Champions’ Resilience Youth Fellow.
