Nestlé on June 5, 2020, joined ‘Race to Zero’, the global campaign to mobilize leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, investors for a healthy and resilient zero-carbon recovery in the run-up to the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26). The campaign aims to drive a new growth and innovation agenda in support of a more inclusive and resilient economy following the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘Race to Zero’ will rally leaders who are committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 at the very latest, in line with global efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C. All participants will also submit a plan in advance of COP26 and set interim targets in the next decade.
Nestlé is already in the race to zero. The company is accelerating its actions to tackle climate change and has committed to net-zero emissions by 2050. Nestlé will publish a roadmap, including interim targets consistent with the 1.5°C path.
Nestlé recognises that its ability to succeed relies on system-wide changes and urges others to do likewise. It will also require a concerted global effort to ensure the recovery from COVID-19 revives the economy and enables the world to tackle climate change at the same time.
Ahead of his participation in the virtual launch event of ‘Race to Zero’, Mark Schneider, CEO Nestlé, said: “We know the challenge of climate change will not wait, so neither will we. Time is of the essence, and we need quick wins in the short term to build a better future as we recover from the COVID-19 crisis. Nestlé is committed to this cause. We will work with others and use our scale and expertise as well as the power of our brands to drive progress – fast. Building a more sustainable food system will be a core element of the solution to climate change, and we intend to play our part in making this happen.”
‘Race to Zero’ is also working to define the most effective pathways to zero-emission for key sectors such as energy, transport, industry, food, retail, and finance and reach key economic tipping points faster. The new pathways will drive coordinated action by investors, businesses, policymakers, and NGOs.
Race To Zero is a global campaign to rallies leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, investors for a healthy, resilient, zero carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs, and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth.
It mobilises a coalition of leading net zero initiatives, representing 449 cities, 21 regions, 992 businesses, 38 of the biggest investors, and 505 universities. These ‘real economy’ actors join 120 countries in the largest ever alliance committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest. Collectively these actors now cover nearly 25 % global CO2 emissions and over 50 % GDP.
Led by the High-Level Climate Champions for Climate Action – Nigel Topping and Gonzalo Muñoz – Race To Zero mobilizes actors outside of national governments to join the Climate Ambition Alliance, which was launched at the UNSG’s Climate Action Summit 2019 by the President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera.
The objective is to build momentum around the shift to a decarbonized economy ahead of COP26, where governments must strengthen their contributions to the Paris Agreement. This will send governments a resounding signal that business, cities, regions and investors are united in meeting the Paris goals and creating a more inclusive and resilient economy.
Race to Zero is an exercise in radical collaboration, uniting net zero commitments from a range of leading networks and initiatives across the climate action community. Race to Zero collaborates with the following initiatives and networks, which have independently been mobilizing non-Party net zero commitments:
- The Argentinian Network of Municipalities
- Certified B Corporation
- The B Team
- Business Ambition for 1.5 C – Our Only Future
- C40’s Deadline 2020
- Carbon Neutrality Coalition
- Chambers Climate Coalition
- The Climate Pledge
- Exponential Roadmap Initiative
- Fashion Charter for Climate Action
- Global Universities and Colleges for the Climate
- ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability
- Net-Zero Asset Owners Alliance
- Science Based Targets for Cities
- TED Countdown
- Under2Coalition
- World Economic Forum / Mission Possible
- We Mean Business Coalition
- World Business Council For Sustainable Development
Minimum criteria required for participation in the Race to Zero campaign
Defining the “Starting Line”
The Race to Zero is an umbrella campaign—driven by science—that aggregates net zero commitments from a range of leading networks and initiatives across the climate action community. 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.
In addition, the High-level Climate Champions require that the commitments brought forward by networks and initiatives recognized in the Race to Zero campaign meet a minimum set of procedural criteria. These process criteria represent the “Starting Line” for the race, so meeting them does not necessarily imply that an actor is on track to net zero, only that they have begun the process. All entities are part of the “Race to Zero” once they cross this “Starting Line.”
The Champions will review these criteria in consultation with participants in the Race to Zero on at least an annual basis.
These criteria focus only on achieving a net zero pledge, not on other aspects of climate action or broader considerations.
Click here for full details on these criteria.
How to join Race to Zero
How to join as an initiative or network: Towards COP26, the High-Level Champions will engage new coalitions and initiatives that match Race to Zero’s ‘minimum criteria’ (outlined above). For more information on how to become a recognized Race to Zero partner, contact: RaceToZero@unfccc.int
How to join as an actor: Individual actors (such as regions, cities, businesses and investors) are invited to join an initiative or network, which is an official Race to Zero partner. By joining one of the partners they will be directly included in Race to Zero.
- Businesses are invited to contact: Business Ambition for 1.5 C – Our Only Future
- Certified B Corporations are invited to contact: B Corporation
- 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
- Investors are invited to contact: Net-Zero Asset Owners Alliance
- Regions/States are invited to contact: Under2Coalition
- Universities are invited to contact: Global Universities and Colleges for the Climate