A race against time and against ourselves. Against the dangerous idea that we can’t do this, that there is no way.
Unlike most races, it won’t have one winner. In this race we all win, or we all lose. Winning it requires a radical, unprecedented level of collaboration, from all corners of our world. From our cities, businesses, regions and investors. From people everywhere.
Together we’re racing for a better world. A zero carbon and resilient world. A healthier, safer, fairer world. A world of wellbeing, abundance and joy, where the air is fresher, our jobs are well-paid and dignified, and our future is clear.
To get there we need to run fast, and get faster. We need more and more people to join the race, and right now. This is not about 2050, it’s about today.
Together, we can do this. And we’re already on our way.
This month we’re changing gears slightly to offer you a retrospective glance at three significant events in which our Built Environment team participated. By Climate Champions | July 7, 2023
In a landmark month that celebrated the commitment of 20% of major actors in the Built Environment sector to the Race to Zero, our dedicated team has been working hard around the globe, leading conversations, panel discussions, and keynote speeches.
Net Zero International Conference: A focus on Egypt’s green future
The Net Zero International Conference took place from 26-28 May in Cairo, Egypt. UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, H.E. Razan Al Mubarak delivered a pre-recorded keynote speech and Climate Champions’ Global Ambassador, Sarah El Battouty participated in a panel discussion, “Initiatives to Pave the Way Towards Net Zero”.
El Battouty, founder of ECOnsult (a Race to Zero signatory through SME Climate Hub), shared her company’s journey towards net zero, presenting a fascinating case study on the “First Green Community in Egypt.” Watch her insightful panel discussion below:
World Circular Economy Forum and GlobalABC General Assembly: Building Breakthrough
The dialogue emphasized deep collaboration, addressed current gaps and barriers to country engagement, and explored the Breakthrough Agenda report’s initial recommendations. The team also deliberated the role of Governments and initiatives in advancing targets.
EmiratesGBC Annual Congress: Illuminating the Pathway to COP28
Finally, on 8 June, Alida Saleh, Senior Advisor to the Climate Champions’ Built Environment team, participated in a fireside chat at the EmiratesGBC Annual Congress in Dubai, UAE. The conversation, titled “Pathway to COP28,” was a highlight of the event. Saleh and Habiba Al Marashi, Co-Founder and Treasurer of EmiratesGBC, discussed the pathway to net zero, addressing the challenges and opportunities non-state actors face throughout the journey and necessary next steps. Watch the full conversation below:
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 […]
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.
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.
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.
