Esteemed climate leaders join group of Global Ambassadors to the Race to Zero and Race to Resilience campaigns

By Climate Champions | August 5, 2024

5 August: Two important figures in the fight against climate change are doubling up to spearhead two crucial campaigns.

Dr. Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, together with  Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, the UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Agenda, have been appointed Global Ambassadors to the Race to Zero and Race to Resilience campaigns.

Rockstrom and Mohieldin, the latter also UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP27, join an eminent group already working to support the campaigns by accelerating the implementation of zero carbon targets and building resilience in urban, rural and coastal areas.

Chosen for their range of expertise across regions and sectors, the group includes Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency, Manuel Pulgar Vidal, Global Leader of Climate & Energy at WWF, Racquel Moses, Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator and Susan Chomba, Director of Vital Landscapes at the World Resources Institute (WRI) among others. 

Commenting on his appointment Dr. Rockström said: “I am honoured to become an Ambassador of the Race to Resilience and Race to Zero. These science-based global campaigns have mobilised actors outside of government, from bankers to activists. We urgently need to mobilise all efforts to cut global emissions by half by 2030 and to build climate resilience across the world, in particular among the most vulnerable people. 

Alongside the UN Climate Champions HE Razan Al Mubarak and Nigar Arpadarai I am committed to provide our scientific understanding that a safe and resilient climate future requires integrating nature and climate. Solving the climate crisis can only be done by returning within safe planetary boundaries, which requires restoring and regenerating nature as well as succeeding with the global energy transformation”.

Dr. Mohieldin added: “It is an honour to join this group of outstanding leaders, committed to driving and delivering climate solutions. As High-Level Champion for COP27, it was a privilege to work alongside the Global Ambassadors and learn from their range of expertise and in depth knowledge. In this role I look forward to continuing my support for advancing climate projects pipelines across the developing world and increasing equitable investment where it’s urgently needed. I also look forward to continuing my support for Sharm El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda as a comprehensive, shared agenda to rally global action around 30 adaptation outcomes that are needed to address the adaptation gap and achieve a resilient world by 2030.”

Led by the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, the Race to Zero and the Race to Resilience mobilise impactful climate action across sectors, regions and non-state organisations to support efforts to decarbonise and help protect and build resilience for the billions of people already affected by climate change.

Race to Zero is the world’s largest campaign of real economy leaders taking action towards net-zero to help halve emissions by 2030. Working with 50+ partners, the campaign unites their members with a shared understanding of credible net-zero action. 

Membership has doubled since COP26 and now includes 14,500+ actors across 146 countries, comprising companies, financial institutions, subnationals, hospitals and universities. The campaign spans 23% of the Fortune 500 and more than 12% of the world’s population.

To date, the Race to Resilience partners have collectively pledged to enhance the resilience of 3.2 billion people to the impacts of climate change by 2030, with action already underway to support  2.2 billion people across 164 countries. 

Nigar Arpadarai, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP29 said:

“I am delighted to welcome Dr Mahmoud Mohieldin and Dr Johan Rockström as two new Ambassadors joining our group of renowned global leaders. The work of the Ambassadors is fundamental if we are to achieve a net zero, resilient, nature positive, and equitable world by 2050. With their unique convening power and global leadership, the Ambassadors elevate the goals of the Race to Zero and Race to Resilience to ensure they are truly global and impactful.’

H.E. Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28 said:

“The Global Ambassadors are an outstanding group of individuals deeply committed to transformative change and addressing the climate crisis across a wide range of sectors and regions. Carefully selected for their individual skills, expertise and global leadership, they are instrumental in championing the work of real economy actors. Their support and energy has amplified the Race to Zero and Race to Resilience and I am truly grateful for their knowledge and insights. Together with their spirit of radical collaboration we are seizing the opportunity of a lifetime to safeguard our planet for future generations.”

About The High-Level Champions

The UN Climate Change High-Level Champions connect the work of governments with the many voluntary and collaborative actions taken by cities, regions, businesses and investors, nations to support the goals of the Paris Agreement. 

H.E. Ms. Razan Al Mubarak and H.E. Ms. Nigar Arpadarai are the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions for COP28 and COP29. 

Contacts

For further details please contact catherineharte@climatechampions.team

Global Ambassadors: https://climatechampions.unfccc.int/global-ambassadors/