RACE TO ZERO CAMPAIGN
Reference: UNFCCC RTZ
Last Update: 11/10/2021
The Race to Zero is UN-backed global campaign driven by science, rallying non-state actors including companies, cities, regions and financial institutions to take rigorous action to half global emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050 at the latest.
Collectively these actors now cover nearly 25% global CO2 emissions and over 50% GDP. These networks and initiatives define the substantive criteria that businesses, cities, states and regions, investors, universities, and others setting net zero targets are required to meet, tailored for different types of actors. A mapping of these substantive criteria is available here. Please refer to the websites of the individual networks’ and initiatives’ that make up the Race to Zero campaign for full details regarding the criteria they apply to their participants.
Participants joining the Race To Zero campaign must meet a minimum set of procedural criteria these include:
- Pledge: Pledge to reach (net)-zero as soon as possible and set an interim target for your fair share of 50% reduction by 2030;
- Plan: Within 12 months of joining, explain what actions will be taken for achieving both interim and longer-term pledges;
- Proceed: Take immediate, meaningful action consistent with the short and long term targets specified;
- Publish: Report progress annually by publishing against your targets on a public platform.
These criteria represent the ‘Starting Line’ for the race. Click here for full details on these criteria. Furthermore, to understand these criteria in more depth, please see the Interpretation Guide version 1.0 April 2021.
How to join Race to Zero as an actor?
- Large Businesses are invited to sign up to one of the following: Business ambition for 1.5, The Climate Pledge, B Corp Climate Collective, Exponential Roadmap Initiative (The 1.5°C Business Playbook can be found here), Business Declares, SME Climate Hub, Pledge to Net Zero, The future Net Zero standard with CBN Expert Community, Planet Mark.
- Small and Medium-sized Enterprises are invited to contact: SME Climate Hub
- Financial Institutions / Investors are invited to contact: UN-Convened Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance, Paris Aligned Investment Initiative, UN Net Zero Banking Alliance, Bankers for Net Zero
- Universities are invited to contact: Global Universities and Colleges for the Climate, Second Nature
- Certified B Corporations are invited to contact: B Corporation
- Company with a sectoral focus: Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, Water UK, International Wineries for Climate Action, Health Care Without Harm
- Chambers of Commerce are invited to contact the International Chamber of Commerce Chambers Climate Coalition
- Cities are invited to contact: Deadline 2020, Science Based Targets for Cities and ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability
- Regions/States are invited to contact: Under2Coalition