Now in its sixth year, London Climate Action Week 2024 (LCAW) marks the midpoint in the global climate calendar. The CAFA team engaged in a range of discussions and interactive sessions on how the Association sector can catalyze change both immediately and in the future across multiple areas:
Small businesses were front and center in discussions, and were a key focus on actions and solutions throughout the week.
By adopting sustainable practices and reducing their carbon footprints, SME's can significantly accelerate progress towards net zero emissions, driving innovation and fostering a resilient, low-carbon economy that benefits both the environment and society at large.
UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP29, Nigar Arpadarai
Trade Associations in particular play a crucial role in helping to mobilise their small businesses, including setting aligned policies and advocating on their behalf, especially considering that 73% of SMEs need funds to start or accelerate their emissions reductions and need help re. regulation, polices, funding and incentivisation.
Our Founder and CEO, Alison Heppenstall presented CAFA at the Aligning Associations with Climate Ambition roundtable where a key topic of discussion was how to equip businesses with clear guidance on engaging their business associations on positive climate policy engagement.
We worked with the High-Level Climate Champions #RaceToZero, @Exponential Roadmap Initiative, @We Mean Business Coalition, @WBCSD and a range of other partners to develop and launch the ‘Business Associations Climate Action Guide’. The guide empowers companies to take concrete actions to assess and align their business association memberships. Read the full Guide here.
CAFA also hosted an event on the importance of Internal Communications and Employee Engagement in an organisations successful transition to net zero. CAFA member, The Institute of Internal Communication and fellow Race to Zero Accelerator Giki took part sharing key stats and practical ways to communicate and engage with employees and key stakeholders. Catch up on the discussion here.
CAFA also contributed to other key business events during the week such as Responsible Policy Engagement discussions by leading consultancy Volans and took part in The Race to Zero strategy setting day, reflecting on the last 4 years of the Race to Zero campaign and what's required to grow the campaign into the future.
CAFA also hosted a roundtable discussion at #ResetConnect at London Excel, targeting the third sector, public sector and membership sector on net zero transition with leading experts from local and national government and policy making.
Finally, CAFA attended the launch of Mission 2025, the global coalition that urges governments to align their upcoming national climate plans with the Paris Agreement target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. It comes less than a year ahead of a crucial February 2025 deadline, when countries are required to submit enhanced climate plans (known as Nationally Determined Contributions) to the United Nations for the period 2025-2035.
Led by Groundswell, Global Optimism, Mission 2025 was launched with an accompanying 'Outrage and Optimism' Podcast. Tom Rivett-Carnac was joined by guests Andrew Steer (Bezos Earth Fund), Adair Turner (ETC), Isabella Noero (Earthrise), Hein Schumacher (Unilever), Tamsin Ballard (PRI), Karen Pflug (INGKA Group) and Nigar Arpadarai (COP29 Champion). Hear their conversations about how to act on climate with speed and scale. Listen to the podcast here.
"This is not the time to stall on action. c. 70% of Associations do not have clear plans or policies in place to lead, advocate and guide their industry and business members. As we head towards #ClimateWeekNYC and #COP29 , we will keep building on the momentum of the role of Associations and Professional Bodies to accelerate the transition to overcome barriers to action, implement policies and the right level of support needed to decarbonise supply chains.
Alison Heppenstall, CEO Climate Action for Associations
Comments