The target to achieve Net Zero emissions is gaining momentum amongst non-party stakeholders around the globe. It is underlined by the significant increase in the numbers registered in data sources such as the Global Climate Action Portal (GCAP).

According to a media release by the UNFCCC, as of October 2021, the portal registered 22,259 actors around the world, an increase of nearly 22% over the previous year. Such actors include cities, regions, businesses, investors, and others.

Particularly noteworthy is the almost 82% increase in the number of participating businesses, bringing the total of companies engaged in climate action to 7,370.

One of the GCAP’s data partners, CDP – the not-for-profit charity that runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts - experienced a 35% growth in environmental disclosures between 2020 and 2021 - the highest number of new disclosures since its inception over two decades ago.

This surge in activity is captured in the recently published 2021 Yearbook of Global Climate Action. The fifth in its series, the Yearbook showcases the work carried out under the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action and the High-Level Champions since the last publication, identifies the sectors that need acceleration, and sets out the future vision of the Champions.

High-Level Champions' Campaigns Mobilizing Action

Three international campaigns led by the High-Level Champions – Race to Zero, Race to Resilience, and Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero - have been instrumental in mobilising action by non-Party stakeholders, driving up the number of credible commitments and securing bold action.

As of November 2021, approximately 7,800 members from 110 countries are part of the Race to Zero, including 67 regions, 1,049 cities, 5,235 businesses, 441 financial institutions, 1,039 educational institutions, and 52 healthcare institutions. 

Also, 24 partners are now in the race to Resilience, representing over 2,500 non-state actor organizations in more than 100 countries who will collectively reduce the vulnerability of 2.3 billion people by 2030.

Meanwhile, more than 450 leading financial enterprises representing over $130 trillion in assets in 45 countries have joined the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero with the aim of mobilizing private capital for developing countries. They include banks, asset managers, asset owners, and insurers, as well as financial service providers, such as stock exchanges, data providers, investment consultants, and auditors.

Accelerating the transformation to net zero

While significant change is already underway, evidence shows that it must accelerate in all sectors of the economy and society in order to achieve the Paris Agreement goals and avoid the worst impacts of climate change. One major example is coal, which needs to be phased out at a pace more than five times faster than at present.

Driving this transformation forward are the Climate Action Pathways, the 2030 Breakthroughs, and the State of Climate Action 2021 by the World Resource Institute. 

They set out sectoral visions for achieving a 1.5° C resilient world in 2050, showcase the long- and short-term milestones for the thematic areas of the Marrakech Partnership, and present the pace of global climate action, respectively.

One of the main priorities of the High-Level Champions over the next two years will be to support the global stocktake process towards the Paris Agreement objectives, as encouraged by Parties in Glasgow. This includes exploring how best to support non-party stakeholders in developing countries and at the regional level to participate and take ambitious action.

(Cover image courtesy: @UNFCCC/Twitter)