While many businesses, cities and regions have set their sights on net-zero emissions, many face barriers that are limiting their ambition or slowing their progress.

There is a clear need to identify these barriers, to understand more about how to refine approaches to transparency and promote greater ambition, and to enable more consolidation, standardization and comparability. 

An independent consultation is taking place to address these issues, with inputs expected to help inform the development of the UNFCCC’s Net Zero Recognition and Accountability Framework and Implementation Plan.

The main output anticipated from the consultation is a report setting out key findings from the consultation and potential pathways forward, expected in the early months of 2024.

The consultation will be co-chaired by Sarah Bloom Raskin, former Deputy Secretary of the United States Treasury and currently Distinguished Professor of Law at Duke University, and Dr. Bing Leng, member of the International Sustainability Standards Board.

This consultation builds on the work of the UN Secretary-General’s High Level Expert Group on the Net Zero Pledges of Non-State Entities whose report - launched at COP27 and entitled Integrity Matters: Net Zero Commitments by Businesses, Financial Institutions, Cities and Regions - set a clear and ambitious direction of travel for credible net zero pledges.

The consultation aims to hear from as many leaders and voices as possible, including through virtual town hall discussions to be convened in October and November, through written submissions and through a public survey. 

Written submissions can be submitted until 7 November, 2023. For more information on how to submit, consult the submissions portal page

You can learn more about the consultation – including the types of questions it is seeking views on - in the newsletter published on this page, and the Frequently Asked Questions document.

The information on this page will be updated as specific consultation events are scheduled in the months ahead as well as other important dates.