The Race to Zero campaign has confirmed that 40 per cent of global tech firms have signed up to its campaign. The UN-backed campaign is the largest global alliance of organisations committed to net zero emissions by 2050 with businesses, regions, cities, universities, and investors making this commitment.
The announcement today means that the sector has exceeded the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) breakthrough challenge for the sector, the point where a crucial mass of key actors in the sector commits to meaningful climate action, enabling them to break away from the business-as-usual path and together deliver breakthrough outcomes at pace.
“The tech sector has shown itself as a leader in setting ambitious targets to accelerate progress towards achieving the Paris Agreement,” Nigel Topping, UN High-Level Climate Champion for COP26, said. “I am delighted that 40 per cent of the sector by revenue has now joined the Race to Zero, with businesses driving change through renewable energy uptake in their operations and through their supply chains. This is what the new normal looks like.”
“Race to Zero recognises the critical role businesses play in embracing sustainable practices as we move toward a zero-waste future,” Paul Robson, President of International at Adobe, said. “Adobe is committed to powering 100 per cent of our global operations with renewable energy by 2035, 70 per cent of which is achievable by 2022. Today, we are proud to announce our participation in the Race to Zero campaign as part of the commitments we made through the Science Based Targets initiative.”
There has also been significant progress within the tech sector’s scale-up community. The Tech Zero task force is led by green energy company Bulb working alongside industry body Tech Nation. Its founding members are 15 fast-growing British tech firms, and more than 150 tech companies of all sizes joined and made ambitious climate commitments. Tech Zero is an official partner to the UN Race to Zero.
“Tech companies of all sizes are taking credible climate action now,” Hayden Wood, Co-founder and CEO of Bulb and leader of the Tech Zero task force, said. “Working together means we can make progress faster so if you’re already well on the way to net-zero, join Tech Zero to help companies who are starting out.”
