The Race to Resilience Campaign: an opportunity for Members of the OACPS to raise ambition together for climate resilience, particularly at the regional level.

The High-Level Climate Champions Race to Resilience – the sister campaign to Race To Zero – was launched at the Climate Adaptation Summit on 25 January 2021, by Alok Sharma, COP26 President designate. For regional organisations in OACPS, this initiative represents a new opportunity to support transformative changes in climate resilience, focusing on the people affected and their natural environment. The objective being to strengthen the resilience of the most vulnerable front-line communities by 2030.

Indeed, the campaign aims to rally all regional, national or global initiatives led by non-state actors (alliances, networks, partnerships, associations, consortia, platforms, etc.).

Anne-Marie Trevelyan, UK’s International Champion on Adaptation and Resilience for the COP26 Presidency, 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.”

Through a partnership of initiatives, the campaign will focus on helping vulnerable communities to build resilience and adapt to the consequences of climate change, such as extreme heat, drought, flooding and sea-level rise, particularly in urban, rural and coastal areas. In this regard, the following initiatives are foreseen:

At Urban level: Transform urban slums into healthy, clean and safe cities;

At Rural level: Equip smallholder farmers to adapt and thrive; and

At Coastal level: Protect homes and businesses against climate shocks.

How to join the Race?

The non-state actor-led regional national or global initiatives were invited to express their interest through filling in an online form

Individual companies, cities, regions, NGOs or organisations can only join the Race to Resilience by joining an approved Race to Resilience initiative.

Initiatives must share the vision and goals of the Race to Resilience, and meet the 4 “P” criteria:

• A quantified “Pledge”, to translate new and existing targets, directly or indirectly, into the numbers of people from vulnerable groups and communities who will be made more resilient to climate risks;
• A clear “Plan”, based on knowledge and scientific evidence, with interim targets and milestones; and
• a concrete “Proceed”, to take immediate action in support of Race to Resilience with active and functional secretariat able to request and monitor members;
• an agreement to “Publish” on progress annually starting at COP26.

For more information on the criteria, please see here

Applications that have already been received before February 12, 2021 are being considered in March. Applications received after February 12, 2021 are expected to be reviewed in early May 2021.