Press releases from the coalition

Global coalition launches to boost government climate plans ahead of critical UN deadline

24 June, London: A coalition of real economy leaders called “Mission 2025” – representing Mayors, Governors, CEOs, investors and citizens – has launched, urging 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. 

Mission 2025’s statement is supported by Iberdrola, Ingka Group / IKEA, Unilever, 2150, Octopus EV (among others) and co-signed by the heads of The B Team, C2ES, C40 Cities, CDP, Climate Crisis Advisory Group, Climate Group, Club of Rome, E3G, ECF, Green Africa Youth Organisation, WBCSD, We Are Family Foundation, We Mean Business Coalition, World Climate Foundation – organizations at the forefront of business and subnational action – who said: “We are ready to embolden governments to set more ambitious plans and accelerate implementation. We know this can unlock trillions in private investment to protect our nature, scale cheap renewable energy, support industries to compete in a low carbon economy, and safeguard living standards equitably for our people.”

These organizations emphasize that governments can be emboldened based on rapid progress underway towards a 1.5°C-aligned economy – an argument bolstered by new data from the Net Zero Tracker. The climate research consortium stated that more than two-thirds of annual revenues ($31 trillion) across the world’s largest companies are now aligned with net zero, representing an increase of 45% in just two years . Alongside this alignment, there are signs also of increasing net zero robustness, with WBCSD reporting that 55 companies (with revenues of over $4.4 trillion) have published transition plans consistent with the science-based pathways of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures.

Mission 2025 responds to analysis by the Energy Transitions Commission, showing that rapidly falling costs of clean technologies and proven feasibility of other solutions mean that countries can collectively almost triple ambition – and bring the world on a 2°C pathway – merely by factoring in the commitments made and progress achieved since previous plans were submitted in 2021. 

Christiana Figueres, Co-Founder Global Optimism said: 

‘The launch of Mission 2025 today is a clear rebuttal to everyone claiming that moving faster on tackling the climate crisis is too difficult, too unpopular or too expensive. The ambition expressed by the Mayors, investors and businesses in this coalition should give governments the confidence to bring their 2025 climate plans in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.’

Dr. Andrew Steer, President & CEO Bezos Earth Fund said: 

‘Mission 2025 will help drive ambition in the crucial period ahead. It illustrates the enormous appetite from businesses, cities, mayors and citizens for faster action. It’s this mutually reinforcing relationship between country- and company-level climate action which we need to continue unlocking in the lead up to COP30 and beyond. National governments have a historic chance to respond when updated climate plans are due next year.’

Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary UN Climate Change said: 

‘The chorus of business leaders, investors and mayors calling for more ambition in economy-wide national climate plans is growing louder and clearer, as global decarbonization gathers pace. It shows real economy actors are eagerly awaiting the bolder policy signals that will enable them to move faster, invest much more, and help ensure NDCs 3.0 fulfill their full potential as blueprints for stronger economies and fairer societies, particularly when supported by adequate finance.’

Christian Jolck, Partner and Co-Founder 2150 said: 

‘Mission 2025 can be the catalyst for long-term impact. As investors we are energized by this initiative as we see that technologies and innovations to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement are evolving and costs are rapidly falling. We need governments to reflect this in their stated ambitions. Startups, investors, cities and corporations are all ready to scale the solutions needed to limit warming to 1.5ºC. We need a clear message from NDCs to accelerate the pace of deployment to build sustainable and resilient economies, which will be the largest mobilization of capital in human history.’

Fiona Howarth, CEO Octopus Electric Vehicles said:

‘Mission 2025 calls on the ambition and urgency needed to tackle the climate crisis. Many sectors now have the technology needed to be cleaner and greener – not least transport with the emergence of many amazing electric vehicles and plummeting battery prices. It’s critical that we now come together and show the leadership needed to make the change our future generations deserve.’

Hein Schumacher, CEO Unilever said: 

‘Tackling climate change is a whole economy effort. Governments that create ambitious national climate plans  – aligned with 1.5°C – will mobilize their economy to decarbonize whilst unleashing new opportunities for growth.’

Karen Pflug, Chief Sustainability Officer Ingka Group said: 

‘As a business we have a key role to play in creating a net-zero society that is just and fair for all. For businesses and society to move quickly we need ambitious targets by Governments – backed by clear plans and ensuring a just transition for all. With only five years left to reach the Paris Agreement, we need Governments to drive ambitious action in their climate plans and enable businesses to accelerate action.’

Adair Turner, Chair Energy Transitions Commission said: 

‘Working together industry and government can raise ambition and drive action. It is vital that the next round of National Determined Contributions (NDCs) reflect progress in clean energy technologies and existing national policies. Beyond targets, the focus must shift to deliverable and investable plans if we are to limit the impact of climate change.’

Helen Clarkson, CEO of Climate Group said:

‘We work with businesses and subnational governments, and they want to see relentless ambition. Corporates are ready to invest in renewables for their power supply and to switch their fleet to electric, but they face policy and other barriers that governments need to address. Subnational governments across the globe are seeing their communities suffer from heatwaves, water shortages, droughts. All of them are eager to be part of the solution and the direction set out in the upcoming NDCs – as long as the plans are ambitious, and clear. National governments need to see that, and treat this as their next Paris moment.’

Jess Teutonico, Executive Director, We Are Family Foundation said

‘We know that young people across the globe want to see more ambitious action on addressing the climate crisis. But to be successful, they must be included not only in the conversation, but in the decisions we make for our future. Because problems that span generations require leadership that does too.’

Johan Falk, CEO and Founder Exponential Roadmap Initiative said: 

‘Companies are driving an exponential energy and materials transformation to halve emissions by 2030 and scale climate solutions. Only through supporting companies with a clear direction laid out in ambitious national climate plans can countries secure the investment that will allow them to win the race to the top of the new, clean economy that meets the needs of all of us sharing this planet.’

Leah Seligmann, Interim CEO, The B Team said: 

‘Only courageous leadership and radical collaboration across society will drive governments to deliver ambitious, people-centered national climate plans. Mission 2025 is a bold, multi-stakeholder collaboration to accelerate a just and inclusive transition with urgency. Future generations need world leaders to show courage and conviction today to keep 1.5 °C alive.’

Mark Watts, Executive Director C40 Cities said: 

’75 percent of C40 cities are slashing per capita emissions faster than their respective national governments and all C40 members have action plans to align their economies with 1.5 degrees as a condition of membership. This is the path to future shared prosperity, creating millions of good, green jobs and charting a just transition out of the inequality and pollution of the fossil fuel era. We urge governments to grasp the opportunity to create plans aligned with 1.5°C, and to make these shared national targets by meaningfully partnering with local and regional governments, philanthropy, businesses, trade unions and civil society to deliver them.’

Peter Bakker, President and CEO World Business Council for Sustainable Development said: 

‘If we want to get back on track to achieving our global climate goals, we must use the next 18 months to set off a positive feedback loop between ambitious policy and private sector action. Mission 2025 is a crucial step in that direction with real economy voices across the globe signaling their willingness and readiness to play their part. The ball is now in the court of national governments who must heed this call and create the facilitative policies that will unlock faster action.’

Sherry Madera, CEO of CDP, said: 

‘Companies from across the world are voluntarily disclosing environmental data in their thousands through CDP, giving governments unparalleled access to the data they need to enhance their NDCs and direct policies in the right areas to further empower the private sector. Our data tells us 1.5C is still the goal for business: 1 in 4 companies disclosed now report having a 1.5°C-aligned climate transition plan, a 44% increase in just one year. CDP is proud to put our voice and data behind Mission 2025, ensuring that governments have the real economy data and insights they need to keep 1.5C in sight.’

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Mission 2025 is convened by Groundswell – a collaboration between the Bezos Earth Fund,  Global Optimism and Systems Change Lab. For media inquiries please contact [email protected] and [email protected].