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:
To inspire associations around the globe to prioritise their climate policy engagement, Race to Zero highlights two businesses and associations who are in the driving seat of ambitious climate policy.
To ensure integrity and accelerate meaningful progress towards halving global emissions by 2030, Race to Zero is a green demand aggregation initiative i.e., showing governments that the private sector is wanting investment in green solutions like green cement, green steel and climate solutions.
To ensure integrity and accelerate meaningful progress towards halving global emissions by 2030, Race to Zero encourages members to align external policy and engagement, including membership in associations, with the goal of halving emissions by 2030.