COP26 in Glasgow
On 31 October, the COP26 in Glasgow started. This is considered as the Climate Summit after the Paris Agreement in 2015. Many people who are having huge concerns about climate change, will appreciate the fact that business leaders, sustainability experts, and governments come together to talk about climate change. But the question is: what will these companies and governments change after the COP26 to implement a more rigorous climate policy and to take more ambitious actions? It is exactly this last question that motivates Global Compact Network Netherlands to increase their call on their members to stand for a more ambitious commitment, to define concrete targets and implement these in their business. During the COP26, UN Global Compact organizes a big virtual event ‘Business Ambition for Climate Change’ and Global Compact Network Netherlands organizes a CEO breakfast with companies that joined the UN Race to Zero.
Business Ambition for Climate Change – 10 November
During the virtual event ‘Business Ambition for Climate Action’, corporate sustainability experts and business leaders, plus heads of UN agencies and civil society organizations will come together to showcase concrete actions for a net-zero economy, to increase society’s resilience and highlight strategies to unlock climate finance. Register here for the event.
CEOs commit to the UN Race to Zero
On the morning of 11 November 2021, a group of leading CEOs comes together just before the National Sustainability Congress. Their companies have joined the UN Race to Zero,. which is an UN-backed global campaign rallying non-state actors across the global economy to take rigorous and immediate action to halve global emissions by 2030 and deliver a healthier and fairer zero carbon world in time. The UN Race to Zero consists of various initiatives. Such as the Business Ambition for 1.5⁰C and the Net-Zero Banking Alliance.
The Business Ambition for 1.5⁰C is initiated by the Science Based Targets Initiative in partnership with the UN Global Compact.
The Net-Zero Banking Alliance brings together banks worldwide. This initiative is UN-convened and Industry-led.
And now?
Are we sure this call for urgency, these commitments and statements, will be enough to save the climate and our world? No, it is for sure not enough. But they will help to point the noses in the same direction of a sustainable and inclusive world. To take the SDGs as a compass for our strategy, policy, and business. And bold leadership from individual companies will certainly deliver a snowball effect.