COP26

The first major global sustainability event to take place since COP27, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, will open this week with the aim of consolidating climate action in the run up to COP28.

“Africa’s strength comes from its unity. A continent that is vibrant, fast-growing, energetic and diverse. And, a key player in showing the way to a low carbon future.” Dr. Amar Inamdar, Managing Director of the KawiSafi Ventures Fund, on the vast opportunities that come with investing in Africa.

Combined solutions to climate change and gender inequality exist – women leaders, new and emerging, just need more support.

Cop26 provided an opportunity for businesses to present their plans and discuss with their peers, value chains, policy makers and civil society what it takes and what is needed. They all recognize that this cannot be done alone. Their message is loud and clear: Collaboration, collaboration and collaboration, says Maria Mendiluce, CEO of We Mean Business Coalition.

We need to recognize the contributions of women as decision makers, stakeholders, educators, and experts across borders and sectors to drive long-term solutions. It’s time we realize women are the missing piece in our global efforts to protect and regenerate our planet, argues Mariah Levin & Gwendoline de Ganay, World Economic Forum.

With 154 events from 80 partners and featuring 176 participating organisations and 21 major sponsors, the first ever COP Resilience Hub brought together a community of state and non-state actors in an unprecedented collaboration. 

At COP26, leading members of the Marrakech Partnership submitted to the UNFCCC a commitment to act now to drive further momentum in the number of credible, transparent, science-aligned, high ambition climate targets.

“To ensure commitments are followed through, our work ahead focuses on turning pledges into near term plans and enhancing accountability for delivering on commitments through better tracking of progress and impact.” A message from High Level Champions for Climate Action, Nigel Topping and Gonzalo Munoz.

Natural climate solutions are the key for the Race to Zero and the Race to Resilience. They can take us beyond net zero, to actually achieve drawdown. With all of the cascading benefits to people and the planet, it is clear that climate finance should support nature-based climate solutions, says Mamta Mehra, Senior Fellow, Land Use & Research Program Officer & Chad Frischmann, Senior Director, Drawdown Solutions, Project Drawdown

The Champions have worked over the past year to enhance integrity and track the progress and impact of commitments made by businesses, investors, cities, states and regions and initiatives. A summary of this work, including metrics and tools to measure the efficacy of actions to boost resilience, can be found in an accompanying factsheet, also published today.

COP26 is drawing to a close and the conditions for political leadership are set: society wants it, business is counting on it, the money is there, and cities will benefit.

Today, at the mandated UN High-Level Event for Global Climate Action – “Racing to a Better World”- the High-Level Climate Champions, Gonzalo Muñoz and Nigel Topping, formally report to Parties on the progress made by non-state actors, and set-out the five-year plan — Improved Marrakech Partnership for Enhancing Ambition — to accelerate delivery during this decisive decade.

A new Camda declaration has been announced that represents a collaboration between key organizations and individuals working on both existing data disclosure platforms and emerging technologies that can support climate action analysis, including blockchain, satellite imagery and machine learning.

It’s Transport day at COP26 and technology is transforming how we move by land, air, and sea.

In her poem, 11-year-old Emtithal Mahmoud watches as her neighbour’s home crumbles into flood waters in a country “already locked in turmoil”.

Miami has one – so does Athens. Now Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, has appointed Africa’s first chief heat officer – a mother on a mission to shield her city and her kids from the chaos of climate change.

“Scaling up NCS is a crucial step if we are to address these challenges, reach net zero and facilitate the transition to a future where we live well, within planetary boundaries,” argues Giulia Carbone, Director, Natural Climate Solutions Alliance.

It’s Gender, Science and Innovation day at week two of COP26 and transformation is accelerating across carbon intensive industries

“We clearly have a different problem, a leadership problem, that is now causing us to not move forward on the rescue of our ecosystems. When analysing the leadership structures of COPs since their inception, it becomes very clear, that the missing element from these conferences have been women.” Bianca Pitt, Co Founder, SHE Changes Climate.

At COP26, the campaign will be announcing new Partners who will deliver resilience transformations: stand alone actions that advance the campaigns mission, focused on specific barriers to resilience.

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.