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.
Chris Skidmore guest Q&A Chris Skidmore OBE speaks at New York Climate Week, September 2023. Copyright: Climate Group. As a former UK energy minister, Chris Skidmore OBE signed into law the country’s commitment to curtail emissions to net zero by 2050. Chris went on to lead an independent Net Zero Review, Mission Zero, […]
Indigenous Peoples and local communities live on and manage more than half of the world’s land, yet they only have legal ownership of 10% of these territories. Robust Indigenous and local land rights are vital for managing forests, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, preserving biodiversity, and improving livelihoods. Nonette Royo, Executive Director, Tenure Facility, has […]
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.
Isobel Mitchell, a Responsible Investment Analyst at the Church Commissioners for England, explains why tackling deforestation is not just an environmental imperative but a critical component of their strategy to achieve net zero and safeguard biodiversity.
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.
Climate Champions’ Global Ambassador Sheela Patel outlines her vision for the Roof Over Our Heads campaign designed to help women leaders from informal settlements to advance resilient, low carbon and affordable homes and solutions for their urban communities thereby advancing the overall climate resilience of their cities.
Sean Kidney, CEO of the Climate Bonds Initiative, underlines transformative role of climate bonds in catalysing our race to a net zero, nature-postive and resilient world and what needs to happen to unlock its dramatic potential.
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.
Stephanie Holthaus, lead of The Nature Conservancy’s Women in Climate (WIC) initiative, discusses the indispensable role women play in climate action. How do you see women’s unique perspectives and skills contributing to more effective climate action and conservation efforts? Women challenge existing power structures and traditional notions of what climate action entails. Crucially, women take […]
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 […]
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.
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.
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.
Sarah Darcie, Policy & Stakeholder Youth Fellow, explains how the Climate Champions are working to elevate the needs of Indigenous Peoples, highlighting their solutions and helping change the narrative of climate finance.
Business leader and campaigner Paul Polman discusses his role as a Global Ambassador to the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, the transformation of food systems to benefit nature ecosystems, and his hopes for the upcoming COP. What does the Race to Zero mean to you? “The Race to Zero is a unique initiative that works […]
As Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week gets underway, youth activist and UN Women National Gender Youth Advocate, Julieta Martinez discusses today’s most challenging issues and the region’s role in global climate action.
With Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Climate Week opening on 23 October, Racquel Moses, Chief Executive of the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator (CCSA) and High-Level Champions Ambassador, discusses the the region’s climate challenges, transformative investments, groundbreaking innovation, and the indomitable spirit of the region to thrive in the face of adversity.
The global food system has the power to nurture the world’s growing population, boost livelihoods and jobs, and help us achieve our climate and nature goals, says Gonzalo Muñoz, High-Level Champion for COP25 and Chair of the Non-State Actors Pillar of the COP28 Presidency’s Food Systems & Agriculture Agenda.
At Climate Week NYC, Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, calls on all actors to step up to transform food systems ahead of Climate Summit in UAE.
Ahead of Africa Climate Week, Dr. Susan Chomba, Director of Vital Landscapes for Africa at WRI, discusses Africa’s unique position in the climate dialogue, the potential for transformative food systems, and the urgent need for regenerative practices.
To mark World Oceans Day, we delve into the maritime industry’s net zero transition. CMB CEO Alexander Saverys explains how the company is helping propel the change through their advocacy for green hydrogen.
To mark World Environment Day, Houdini’s Sustainability Coordinator, Malva Carlsson, highlights the company’s aim to go beyond net zero and become regenerative, benefiting ecosystems and societies.
Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, former Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, issues a resolute call to state and non-state actors alike to safeguard ecosystems, emphasizing the dire consequences of inaction.
Plans being drawn up to incentivise low carbon shipping must be inclusive and equitable, warns Tuvalu government official Asela Peneueta.
From significantly increased financial resources to engaging Indigenous peoples, Ms. Juliette Biao, Director of the UN Forum on Forests, explains what’s needed to protect these critical ecosystems.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Synthesis Report under the Sixth Assessment Cycle will be released on 20 March. Working Group II lead author and Technical Lead of Race to Resilience, Paulina Aldunce explains its significance.
UMAS Principal Consultant, Jean-Marc Bonello explains what impact a science-based framework will have on the sector’s Race to Zero.
We need to make a critical mindset shift to build capacity for justice and regeneration, says Dr Sally Uren, Forum for the Future CEO.
Climate Champions’ Global Ambassador, Dr. Agnes Kalibata is President of AGRA, an African led and Africa based institution that puts smallholder farmers at the centre of the continent’s growing economy. In this interview, Dr Kalibata discusses why urgently transforming our food systems is not only critical for our environment and the climate, but for the economy – creating opportunities for urgent growth in a time of compounded crises.
CEO of Resilience Rising, Seth Schultz explains why and how the maritime sector is putting resilience on an equal footing with mitigation.
Former Mayor of Quito, Mauricio Rodas explains why action to confront extreme heat is nowhere near where it needs to be.
Founder and Director of Valence Solutions, Dr Gabrielle Walker helps us imagine, in parallel with rapid reductions, how we can take CO2 out of the air at the scale needed to achieve net zero in an effective, affordable and equitable way and start reversing climate change.
“In the last 12 years, nine of the 13 oldest and five of the six largest baobabs on continental Africa have died. And it looks like climate change is one of the reasons for this,” award winning filmmaker and naturalist Cyrille Cornu.
Burberry has announced a strategy to protect, restore and regenerate nature, which includes expanding support for farming communities, in line with its commitment to become climate-positive by 2040.
“Both Natura and The Body Shop have worked for the last two decades with traditional and indigenous communities on how we can generate a business model that gives more value to the Amazon and other countries around the world.” Keyvan Macedo, Natura & Co. Sustainability Director, explains why the company is aiming for net positive.
Legendary marine biologist, Chair and President of Mission Blue, and National Geographic Explorer, Dr Sylvia Earle explains what it will take to restore the health of our oceans after decades of deep decline.
Recognizing the ocean-climate connection and the need for youth calls for ocean and climate action to be amplified, Sustainable Ocean Alliance’s Youth Policy Advisory Council solicited video submissions from young, regional environmental leaders.
“The opportunities for adapting, while shifting our economy to be prosperous, sustainable and equitable, are plenty – we just have to have the will and the courage to seize these opportunities” – Camille Manning Broome, President and CEO of the Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX) explains why a happy ending for Louisiana is possible.
International climate change and human rights lawyer, Tessa Khan discusses the law’s role in holding governments and companies to account, the limitations of the legal process, and the eroding social license of the fossil fuel industry.
“To the leaders of the developing countries, including my own, I would like to say: be bold! Show to the world your vision of how you want to transform your communities in order to survive AND thrive post-pandemic and amid continuous and exacerbated climate threats” — Vladislav Kaim, UN Secretary General’s Youth Advisor on Climate Change.
“Climate change isn’t about countries: it’s about people. It’s about the world we want to live in for generations to come and the species we share it with. In other words, it’s far too important to leave just to world leaders – this crisis requires all of us to step up” – Governor of California, Gavin Newsom explains what’s at stake.
Formula One World Champion and winner of 23 Grands Prix, Nico Rosberg on the power of sport, gender equality and the future of e-mobility.
“We have to address who is leading, and how we are leading, to usher in transformation more quickly and more fully than we’re seeing right now,” Dr Katharine Wilkinson on gender inequality, culture, imagination, and the good and the bad of net zero commitments.
If you could write a letter that would be read by the world’s leaders, what would you say?
“We are building commitment to a whole economy transition because we know we won’t get to net zero in a niche” – Mark Carney, UK Prime Minister’s Finance Advisor and UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance, speech at the Venice International Climate Conference.
The heathcare sector has a responsibility to train, educate, advocate and influence decision and policy-makers, collaborate widely through its research work, and engage the youth in inclusive programmes, according to Dr Claire Bayntun, Vice President of the Royal Society of Medicine.
“Our big opportunity to look beyond what has always been and build a world that we can all thrive in.” A poem by Kumi Naidoo.
World leading shark expert Cristina Zenato explains that if we are to mend our broken relationship with the natural world then first we have to fix our disconnect with the ocean.
Adventurer, conservationist, writer and photographer Cristina Mittermeier discusses the role of storytelling in the protection of the ocean with COP25 High Level Champion for Chile, Gonzalo Muñoz.
“As the world around us is changing, both in terms of the green energy revolution and in terms of the climate conditions we will have to operate in, if we do not change, adapt and add our ability to reduce emissions, then we will be left behind technologically, operationally and socially,” Lieutenant-General Richard Nugee CB CVO CBE.
With science demanding that in order to stay below 1.5C we must reach “net zero” greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 at the absolute latest, how do we get there? Tom Rivett-Carnac in conversation with Dr. Thomas Hale, Associate Professor in Global Public Policy at Oxford University.
“I have no doubt we will find the answers but only if we are bold enough to talk about things which are more inconvenient and not brush them under the carpet. We will only fight this fight if we keep our voices as clamorous as possible and talk truth to power. Only then.”
“The current pandemic is a great opportunity to come back better and have a green recovery that is good for people, for nature and for the climate. And it’s entirely possible” – Tim Christophersen, UNEP
Chilean social entrepreneur and COP25 High-Level Climate Champion Gonzalo Muñoz on how the Race to Zero can be won. And he’s on a mission to bring a big list of business pledges to Glasgow in 2021.
