A race against time and against ourselves. Against the dangerous idea that we can’t do this, that there is no way.
Unlike most races, it won’t have one winner. In this race we all win, or we all lose. Winning it requires a radical, unprecedented level of collaboration, from all corners of our world. From our cities, businesses, regions and investors. From people everywhere.
Together we’ll be racing for a better world. A zero carbon world. A healthier, safer, fairer world. A world of wellbeing, abundance and joy, where the air is fresher, our jobs are well-paid and dignified, and our future is clear.
To get there we need to run fast, and get faster. We need more and more people to join the race, and right now. This is not about 2050, it’s about today.
The High Level Climate Champions Race to Resilience — the sibling campaign to Race To Zero — was launched at the Climate Adaptation Summit on 25 January by Alok Sharma, COP26 President designate, after an opening statement from Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary General of the United Nations.
The campaign sets out to catalyse a step-change in global ambition for climate resilience, putting people and nature first in pursuit of a resilient world where we don’t just survive climate shocks and stresses but thrive in spite of them.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan, UK’s International Champion on Adaptation and Resilience, said: “We must take action to support those most at risk to the impacts of climate shocks. The Race To Resilience campaign will mobilise businesses, investors, cities and civil society to strengthen the resilience of 4 billion people in vulnerable communities by 2030. I encourage all those who want to play a part in supporting those most vulnerable to climate change to join this campaign.”
Led by the High-Level Climate Champions for Climate Action – Nigel Topping and Gonzalo Muñoz – Race to Resilience aims:
Through a partnership of initiatives, the campaign will focus on helping frontline communities to build resilience and adapt to impacts of climate change, such as extreme heat, drought, flooding and sea-level rise.
Dr Saleemul Huq, Director of the International Center for Climate Change and Development, said: “This decade is for action. Within 10 years, decisive action must catalyse change across the world and build the resilience of 4 billion people from groups and communities who are vulnerable to climate risks. Every company, city, university and NGO should be part of the Race to Resilience.”
Join the Race to Resilience
Non-state actor-led regional, national or global initiatives are invited to express their interest to join the Race to Resilience.
Initiatives must share the vision and goals of the Race to Resilience, and meet the following criteria:
To register your interest please fill out this form and send it to resilience@climatechampions.team
For more information on the criteria, please see here.
All expressions of interest will be reviewed by the Climate Champions Team. The Team will make a decision on which initiatives will be invited to join the Race To Resilience. Initiatives not meeting the criteria will be advised on how they can support the Campaign.
Applications received by 12 February 2021 will be reviewed by early March. Applications received after 12 February are expected to be reviewed by early May 2021.
Please note that individual companies, cities, regions, NGOs or organizations are not able to join the Race To Resilience on their own, but may do so by joining an approved Race to Resilience initiative. These will be shared by March 2021, after the first set of expressions of interest have been assessed.
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