Race to Zero Report

Pledge

Target absolute zero or net negative emissions Reduce emissions to absolute zero with no remaining residual emissions, or go further and ensure your activities remove more GHGs than they produce. See Lexicon for further details.

1. Measured with normative tool from SME Climate Hub to understand scope 1,2,3 is 14 tonnes and 100% scope 3.
2. Identified action to take so the engagement, education and collaboration PIE delivers includes information on how others can lower their emissions eg promoting and creating resources so over 160 event professionals are accessing free resources to lower their emissions.

Adopt inclusive boundaries Widen the scope of your target to include cumulative emissions, especially where these are significant (for all actors) and / or consumption emissions (for cities, states, and regions). See Lexicon for further details

1. Used the normative tool which has been created to meet The Race to Zero requirements so no further action required

Set twin targets for reductions and removals In addition to your emissions reductions targets, compensate for any unabated emissions year on year through investment in high quality carbon credits, disclose neutralisation milestones that demonstrate the integrity of commitments to neutralise unabated emissions and state how you plan to ultimately neutralise any residual emissions by 2050 through high-quality, permanent removals.

1. Based on using the normative tool we understand that the first approach we can take is to reduce and we may not need to act on removal. We will review this assumption in 12 months.

Set specific targets for short-term reduction of methane and other GHGs Pledge to reduce methane emissions by at least 34% by 2030, in line with the IPCC’s 6th Assessment Report, and make near-term pledges to reduce other high global warming potential GHG emissions.

1. Based on using the normative tool and undertaking a materiality exercise the only link to methane identified is through food purchasing
2. Choice of 80% plus vegetarian menu including for work travel, general refreshment choices and events.

Protect nature Pledge to halt deforestation and protect biodiversity, making your activities consistent with climate resilient development. Pledge to make finance consistent with climate resilient development including ending deforestation and conversion of other natural ecosystems, and respecting biodiversity.

1. Undertook a materiality exercise to understand what actions were being taken that could impact on deforestation and biodiversity
2. Choosing a stationery supply who is FSC certified.

Contribute to 2030 Breakthroughs Set sectoral targets in line with the 2030 Breakthroughs or more ambitious sector targets. For financial institutions, use sector-specific targets that drive emissions reductions and do not simply shift investment from high-emitting to low-emitting sectors.

1. Positive Impact feedback to the UNFCCC that the net zero carbon events roadmap Nov 2021 conversations of achieving net zero by 2050 was not ambitious enough based on commitments made through The Race to Zero Accelerator Programme

2. Positive Impact works across sport, culture and business events and there is not a sector target

Plan

Support a just transition Explain how you will support communities affected by both climate impacts and the climate transition, and strengthen their participation in achieving the global goal of halving emissions by 2030, seeking to address injustices and build towards a more equitable future.

1. Positive Impact deliver a 24 hour education initiative on World Peace Day (sept 21st) and in 2022 this was a ‘pay what you can afford’ cost. This meant Positive Impact ambassadors in, for example Bolivia, were able to access education so they could be as informed and empowered as ambassadors in areas of the world where they can afford education budgets.

Integrate nature Drawing on the Convention on Biological Diversity, integrate the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity into relevant sectoral or cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies.

1. Undertook a materiality exercise to understand what actions were being taken that could impact on deforestation and biodiversity

1. Encourage staff participation in local clean up schemes (e.g. canal clean up)

Empower stakeholders Explain what actions you will take to empower other stakeholders in your community and beyond to achieve their own targets, embracing the spirit of radical collaboration. Include how you will support the Sustainable Development Goals. Identify in your plan how you will help build the resilience of, and drive funding to, developing countries to achieve a just, inclusive transition.

1. Positive impact has a global community of over 1600 event professionals from over 40 countries. In 2022 they were empowered in the following ways:

-Provided with toolkits to be part of UN SDG Action Campaign

-Provided with 4 powerpoint over the year which they could share with their communities

-Regularly given opportunities to be part of UN initiatives including: UN SDG Action Campaign and The Race to Zero

The ability to become a Positive Impact Ambassador is free and available to anyone in any country. The resources shared are mainly free and when paid for a ‘pay what you can afford’ scheme was introduced in 2022

Proceed

Contribute beyond your own territory / value chain In addition to following a science-aligned net zero pathway to reduce your own emissions and neutralise any residual emissions that remain, contribute toward global (net) zero through beyond value chain / territorial mitigation efforts, such as the purchase and retirement of high-quality carbon credits (emission reductions, avoidance or removals) that do not substitute for nor delay emissions reductions necessary to meet the Pledge.

1. 100% of Positive Impact supply chain have been asked to join The Race to Zero

2. Over 1600 Positive Impact Ambassadors have been given resources to share with their value chain (which their value chain could also share) to join The Race to Zero.

3. As of 2022 a need has not been identified to purchase carbon credits.

Prioritise emissions-intensive sectors Take immediate action to protect standing forests and avoid and reduce emissions in the most GHG-intensive activities and sectors, while not neglecting longer-term efforts. Align to the 2030 Breakthroughs sectoral targets.

1. In 2022 Positive Impact prioritised energy and transport and declined invitations to attend global events where there was no clear evidence that the impact created would ‘offset’ the carbon caused by event travel.

2. Through Positive Impact’s role as a Race to Zero Accelerator attention was constantly paid to the sectoral targets and action being taken in those areas which could impact events.

Scale up climate solutions Proactively grow activities that contribute to the achievement of global net zero, such as new technologies, business models, policy approaches, and community practices.

1. Positive Impact partnered with EventSustainability to create a beta system for understanding the sustainability issues (positive and negative) of an event

2. Positive Impact reached out to over 20 global universities to share resources for event students to become champions of credible sustainability initiatives including The Race to Zero Accelerator program for event sector SMEs

3. Positive Impact arranged a meeting with UK gov to advance the idea of UK leadership as a low carbon event destination

4. Positive Impact co created guidelines with Unicef UK on the consideration of human and child rights when planning an event.

Empower your ecosystem Empower those in your ecosystem to implement Race to Zero plans, including through financing, capacity building, knowledge-sharing, and access to resources. In particular for financial institutions, scale-up investment in emerging markets and developing countries.

1. Positive Impact provided education and collaboration opportunities for the over 160 who made a Race to Zero commitment

1. Positive Impact provided education and collaboration opportunities for the over 1600 global Positive Impact Ambassadors

Publish

Report on progress in and beyond your value chain or territory Outline progress both regarding within-value-chain / territorial emissions reductions and investment made / action taken outside of your value chain / territory. Report on how you have allocated resources and capacities to achieve the short-term and longer-term targets.

1. Positive Impact have created guidance on how to report on progress and shared with the community of event SMEs who have joined The Race to Zero

2. Positive Impact created funding proposals to be able to train event sector media to understand sustainable event reporting

Persuade

Activate the ambition loop Proactively advocate for your peers, stakeholders, and governments to align their goals and actions to 1.5C. Demonstrate how the implementation of your own ambitious targets creates opportunities for others to follow.

1. Positive Impact arranged a meeting with UK gov to advance the idea of UK leadership as a low carbon event destination

2. Positive Impact provide education in the form of webinars with sustainability thought leaders

3. Positive Impact have collaborated with the event sector to share examples of best practice to inspire positive change

Mainstream (net) zero alignment Advocate for appropriate regulation and facilitating measures to ensure that alignment to 1.5C becomes the default for all actors.

1. Positive Impact arranged a meeting with UK gov to advance the idea of UK leadership as a low carbon event destination

Starting Line for Persuade- Included because this is the most relevant for events

Within 12 months of joining, align external policy and engagement, including membership in associations, to the goal of halving emissions by 2030 and reaching global (net) zero by 2050.

Not relevant for Positive Impact as they are reporting on Leadership Practices, however Positive Impacts strategic approach is to transform the global event sector to align with this requirement so 100% of our leadership practices will advance this.