Businesses are ‘key lever’ to delivering Paris Agreement – COP26 team

Baker’s team works alongside High-Level Champion Nigel Topping and the Race to Zero Campaign, providing information and inspiration to businesses, civil society, cities, regions, academia NGOs, faith organisations and youth organisations.

Addressing sustainability and energy professionals ahead of this month’s summit in Glasgow, Baker said: ‘I know that many of you are climate leaders, leading action within your own organisations, so you’ll be familiar with many of the arguments [for accelerating action].  But, I think, over the summer, the impacts have become all too apparent; they are very much in the here and now. The effects of climate change are already with us, whether it’s floods in Europe, or China, wildfires elsewhere or huge storms. They impact everyone but particularly the most vulnerable.’

Baker said the Paris Agreement was an “excellent” vehicle for delivering climate adaptation and mitigation but stressed the time had come for further action as progress to date had not put the world on course for a 1.5c change.

The recent UN Synthesis Report on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement concluded that current commitments would deliver a projected decrease in global emissions of 12% by 2030, compared to 2010 levels. However, a 25% decrease would be needed to deliver a 2C world, or a 45% decrease to deliver a 1.5C world.

Baker said: ‘Much of the action that is needed is going to be taken and delivered  – and is being taken and delivered – by businesses. And, often, I think people relate much more to the tangible, concrete actions businesses are taking – whether they are building offshore wind farms, or manufacturing electric vehicles – than they do to the less tangible commitments taken by governments in the form of NDCs.’

He also added the businesses can have ‘masses of influence’  over other non-state organisations or, with collaborative measures, national governments.

He set out a detailed list of recommendations for best-practice actions businesses can take to accelerate and broaden climate ambitions and turn them into action, including:

• Setting a net-zero target, with 2050 as the latest deadline
• Backing this long-term ambition with a commitment to reduce emissions by at least 50% by 2030
• Setting verified science-based targets
• Joining the 4,000+ businesses already committed to Race to Zero (Baker said this initiative “simplifies many of the climate initiatives and brings them all under one umbrella, making it easier for companies and others to know what to do”)
• Ensuring they are taking action across all COP26 themes: Clean energy, clean transport, finance, adaptation and resilience and nature.

In conclusion, Baker said: ‘Either take further ambitious commitments, or, being leaders yourselves, encourage other companies you work with to do likewise – both in the short, remaining time until COP26 and during the course of the event.

‘Promote what you’re doing to tackle climate change. I think people really need to have a sense of momentum that things are being done. Often, people have a sense that we are not able to meet this challenge. Showing that action is being taken will give a sense of hope.

‘Action does not stop at COP26 and nor does our presidency. We will want to promote what businesses are doing throughout the course of the coming year; action needs to continue beyond COP26.’