The Race to Zero retail campaign is backed by the United Nations and was launched by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) at the COP26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, in November 2021. 

 

Sustainability Thumbnail (1) The campaign “calls on retailers everywhere to take ambitious climate actions noting that less than 5% of large retailers globally have made a commitment to address climate change.  

The retail sector plays a unique role in the community, with the potential to drive meaningful change in our transition to the low-carbon economy of the future, and an ability to influence consumers and suppliers in the shift towards more sustainable production and consumption. The Race to Zero campaign also enables retailers around the world to take a co-ordinated approach to addressing climate change. 

To join the campaign, retailers need to: 

  1. Pledge at head-of-organisation level to reach net-zero on Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions as soon as possible
  2. Within 12 months of joining, set an interim target that represents a 50% reduction of your fair share by 2030
  3. Take immediate, meaningful action within 12 months of joining
  4. Report progress annually by publishing performance against your targets on a public platform
Once you’ve decided to join the campaign, you can register your commitment through one of the Race to Zero partner initiatives, including:

  • Business Ambition for 1.5 Degrees – choose this initiative if your organisation wants to set a net-zero target in line with a 1.5°C degree future
  • The Climate Pledge – choose this initiative if your organisation wants to reach net zero carbon by 2040, reaching the goals of the Paris Agreement 10 years early
  • SME Climate Hub – choose this initiative if your organisation has 500 or fewer employees

To raise awareness of the types of actions retailers could take towards net-zero emissions, and support our sector on this transition, we’re delighted to confirm that the ARA has joined the Race to Zero Accelerator Pledge.  

 
As ARA CEO Paul Zahra said when announcing that we’d taken the pledge, “the opportunity to play a leading role in the Race to Zero campaign galvanises our intent, connects our members with international best practice, and sends a strong signal to the global supply chain that Australian retail is ready to play its part in addressing climate change.”  
 
If you would like to find out more or register your commitment to join the Race to Zero campaign, please fill out the form below and keep an eye out for information sessions that the ARA will run through 2022. 
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Business Ambition for 1.5 Degrees – choose this initiative if your organisation wants to set a net-zero target in line with a 1.5°C degree future  The Climate Pledge – choose this initiative if your organisation wants to reach net zero carbon by 2040, reaching the goals of the Paris Agreement 10 years early  SME Climate Hub – choose this initiative if your organisation has 500 or fewer employees