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.
COP26 World Leaders Summit Interludes: Leading voices launch catalytic initiatives
By Climate Champions | November 3, 2021
Real economy leaders joined Heads of State on stage at COP26 yesterday to celebrate the centrality of business, finance, and civil society to deliver the promise of the Paris Agreement.
The COP26 World Leaders Summit Interludes — which covered mitigation, adaptation and resilience, finance and collaboration — saw leading voices come together to launch catalytic initiatives to accelerate the transition to a zero carbon world.
The Interludes are available to watch again on the UN High-Level Climate Champions YouTube channel and below.
Our chance to decide our future
UN High Level Champion for Climate Action, Nigel Topping, in conversation with leading voices of society highlighting the power of the ambition loop, outlining the perfect conditions for political leadership to halve emissions by 2030.
Speakers:
Nigel Topping – UN High-Level Climate Champion for COP26
Eric Garcetti – Mayor of Los Angeles, Chair of C40 Cities
Finance & resilience in a changing climate
The intervention highlighted non state actor mobilisation to build resilience to the impacts of climate change, and stories of action that demonstrate NSA mobilisation from frontline community groups to international financial institutions.
An interlude featuring SIDS presented new NSA initiatives to catalyse a net zero transition through new funding and capacity building efforts. It also featured efforts to accelerate adaptation across island states.
Speakers:
Hyginus Leon – President, Caribbean Development Bank
Presenting a major new finance initiative Africa Green Finance Coalition (AGFC), designed to accelerate green finance policy and regulatory reform policy across Africa and mobilise green investment capital at scale.
Speakers:
Seyni Nafo – Co Chair Africa Green Finance Coalition and Spokesperson for the African Group of Negotiators (AGFC)
Ukur Yattani – Cabinet Secretary Kenya Treasury representative of Co-Chair (AGFC)
Ayaan Zeinab Adam – Senior Director and Chief Executive Officer, AFC Capital Partners
Nature’s Place in the Race
Launch of REGEN 10, an acceleration platform for existing coalitions scaling regenerative and resilient food systems to 50% of world production in a decade, with farmers from global north and south firmly at the centre of the transition as the primary agents of change. The platform has a key role in enhancing NDCs and resilience as well as accelerating emission reduction and removal from NSA.
Elizabeth Nsimadala – PAFO immediate Past President and Newly elected PAFO Board member incharge of women affairs, Re – elected President of Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF)
Victoria Tauli-Corpuz – Executive Director of Tebtebba & Former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples (2014-2020)
Across the two weeks, non-State actors offered a wide range of actions, announcements, and events across thematic areas. This included the launch of the African Cities Water Adaptation Fund, an African-led insurance commitment to provide cover for up to USD 14 billion in climate losses, and the Sharm-El-Sheik Adaptation Agenda in partnership with the COP27 Presidency.
The new Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI), which was inaugurated today at CO27, aims to support the growth of carbon credit production and create jobs in Africa.
Africa can lead the world in limiting emissions, drive climate restoration and orient Africa towards its strengths which translate into major new segments of economic opportunity, writes Jack Kimani, Founding CEO of the Climate Action Platform for Africa (CAP-A).