By Real Leaders
Club de Madrid, the world’s largest forum of democratic former presidents and prime ministers, is calling for collaborative efforts to fight climate change in its latest Leadership for Net Zero report. Club de Madrid presented the report before King Felipe VI and several high authorities in Spain earlier in 2024.
“In the journey towards net zero, decarbonizing global supply chains stands as a formidable challenge,” says Helena Viñes-Fiestas, co-chair of the Net Zero Policy Task Force. “While some may opt for the easy route of offsetting, true progress demands more.
What is Leadership for Net Zero?
The Leadership for Net Zero initiative is an international platform for fostering reflection and mobilizing multidisciplinary expertise in implementing practical strategies toward achieving net zero. It brings together political, business, and civil society leaders to address the intertwined challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, and inequality.
The initiative convened three working groups led by distinguished figures from political, business, and civil society sectors, including Prime Minister Han Seung-Soo of South Korea, President Jorge Quiroga of Bolivia, President Felipe Calderón of Mexico, and President Carlos Alvarado of Costa Rica.
Leadership for Net Zero’s final report comprises a summary of the recommendations outlined by the three working groups with conclusions and next steps.
Key Recommendations
The report provides a set of recommendations for current leaders across government, civil society, and business spheres. It builds on the indispensable role of democratic leadership in securing and maintaining citizens’ backing for the transformative actions needed to achieve net zero. Key recommendations include:
- Business leadership. Business leaders are urged to decarbonize supply chains, including enhancing measurement and reporting, setting science-based targets, and integrating climate criteria into procurement and supplier contracts. The report also emphasizes the importance of supporting small and medium enterprises, ensuring just transition strategies, and advocating for policy support.
- Political leadership. A concerted global effort must mobilize finance, prioritize equity, and enhance urban resilience. The report emphasizes the need to share responsibility and empower citizens, revise economic metrics for sustainability, promote positive narratives for climate action, and implement carbon pricing initiatives.
- Citizen leadership. Recommendations focus on climate finance for vulnerable communities, global governance for climate finance justice, and empowering citizens to participate in decision-making processes, demand action from governments and companies, and rethink economic and social models to create a sustainable future.
What’s Next?
Club de Madrid calls for collaborative efforts between governments, businesses, and civil society to prioritize citizen engagement, equitable distribution of resources, and integration of climate action with broader socio-economic development goals. Leaders across all sectors must observe these recommendations and take decisive action towards net zero, safeguarding the planet for future generations.
In response to these challenges, Club de Madrid will continue to promote these recommendations, advocate for climate neutrality, and mobilize stakeholders through high-level advocacy or public information campaigns.
About Club de Madrid
Club de Madrid is the world’s largest forum of democratic former presidents and prime ministers who leverage their individual and collective leadership experience and global reach to strengthen inclusive democratic practice and improve the well-being of people around the world. As a nonpartisan and international nonprofit organization, it counts on the hands-on governance experience of more than 100 members from over 70 countries, along with a global network of advisers and partners across all sectors of society.
Dive Deeper
Read Leadership for Net Zero’s full report here.
