The Race to Zero has kicked off! From 9 – 19 November, the Race to Zero Dialogues will convene regions, cities, businesses, and other actors to take action on the 10 climate action pathways identified by the Marrakech Partnership and achieve a climate-resilient future.

Each Pathway sets out the near- and long-term milestones for limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5°C in the areas of energy, cities and other human settlements, industry, land use, oceans and coastal zones, transport, water and resilience. Collectively, they provide a blueprint to coordinate climate ambition in the run up to the COP26 set for Glasgow in November 2021.

Each virtual dialogue is organized by a key partner, under an umbrella programme curated by the High-Level Champions, Mr. Nigel Topping, and Mr. Gonzalo Muñoz. 

Regions4 is supporting the Race to Zero co-organising the following sessions. Join us!

Building a Climate Resilient and Just Future for all: knowledge and voices from the frontline

16 November, 7:00-9:00 am UTC

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed how the more marginalised and poorest populations are hit the hardest. The same is true for climate change impacts. This dialogue will look at how lessons from COVID can be used to raise ambition and empower communities to build resilience to the risks of climate change.

Critically, community members and grassroots organisations are articulate and specific about the support they need from governments and other external actors to help them get back on their feet. As the world begins to move towards a post-COVID society, the focus should be to ‘build back better and fairer’ with collective efforts from all sectors of society. This session will highlight the crucial roles that are played by grassroot groups in building community resilience and will explore the practical ways they can partner with others to create more resilient societies.

Mr Adama SAWADOGO, President of the Centre Nord Regional Council and member of Regions4 / RegionsAdapt, will participate to share the experience of his region.

Mr Nigel Topping the UNFCCC High-Level Champion will join the session to take forward recommendations to the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action on advancing equitable and just ambitious action.

>> Registration available here.

States and Regions on the Path to net-zero

18 November, 17:00-18:00 GMT

Official session on subnational governments of the Race to Zero November Dialogues.

Through both high-level and experts’ discussions, the one-hour event will explore the core elements of setting a subnational net-zero emissions reduction target, bringing stories from both leading states and regions with a net-zero target in place and from governments with experience in the development of feasible decarbonization pathways. It will highlight actions across different sectors including energy, industry, and nature-based solutions.

More than 20 regional governments across the world are leading from the front and have already set ambitious net-zero targets, and on the road to COP26 in Glasgow next year more need to join and start the race to zero emissions for future generations and a more resilient global community.

The event will count with the participation of Regions4 President, Ms Arantxa Tapia, Minister for Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment of Basque Country.

>> Registration is available here.

Further information

The full programme of the Race to Zero November Dialogues is available here.

For further details regarding Regions4 involvement in Race to Zero, please contact Mayra García-Blásquez, RegionsAdapt Project Officer at mgarcia@regions4.org