UN Climate Change High-Level Champions and Bloomberg philanthropies to host Race to Zero and Resilience Forum/

Landmark event will convene policymakers and leading net zero initiatives representing cities, regions, businesses, and investors to turbocharge climate action ahead of COP27. Forum will be held on September 21 in New York City during the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly.

Today, UN Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions and Race to Zero and Race to Resilience Global Ambassador Michael R. Bloomberg and the United Nations Climate Change High-Level Champions Nigel Topping and Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin announced they will co-host the United Nations Climate Action: Race to Zero and Resilience Forum on September 21, 2022 in New York City. The Forum, which will take place during the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, will bring together members of the largest ever alliance committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions – including businesses, cities, regions, financial institutions, and civil and cultural leaders – to chart progress and showcase subnational actors raising the bar on net zero delivery and building resilience ahead of COP27. 

“From Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to record-breaking heatwaves and droughts, the past year has made it crystal clear that dependence on fossil fuels is not just an environmental threat, but an urgent economic and security issue as well,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, UN Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions and Race to Zero and Race to Resilience Global Ambassador. “Through the Race to Zero and Race to Resilience coalitions, cities, states, regions, and businesses are working together to build a safer, more resilient future powered by clean energy. This forum is a critical opportunity to highlight their progress over the past year and launch new partnerships in the lead-up to COP27.”

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said: “We have a critical mass of global commitments to net-zero, from both governments and non-state actors. We must now zoom in on the quality and implementation of plans. On measuring and analyzing. On reporting, transparency and accountability. That is why, I have decided to establish a High-Level Expert Group to propose clear standards to measure and analyze net zero commitments from non-state actors. We need action if commitments are to pass the credibility test. We need to hold each other accountable — Governments, non‑State actors and the civil society. Because only together can we keep 1.5°C within reach and the equitable and resilient world we need.”

The Race to Zero and Race to Resilience campaigns were launched ahead of COP26 to rally leadership and support from actors outside of national governments to build momentum towards a healthy, resilient, zero carbon economy and to spark a step-change in global ambition for climate resilience. This year, both global campaigns have sought to harness the momentum built in the run-up to COP26 and translate their members’ robust commitments into rapid implementation. To date, over 11,000 non-state actors from across 116 countries have joined Race to Zero, committing to meeting the Paris goals and halving global emissions by 2030. These include 8,000 businesses, 1,000 cities, and 500 financial institutions – including well over two-thirds of FTSE 100 companies. In parallel, Race to Resilience now comprises 28 Partners, representing over 2,000 organizations, delivering action in over 100 countries.