Race to Zero with H&M, IKEA and Walmart

Please note that this event has passed. Please view our upcoming events page or contact events@retailcouncil.org for inquiries about future events.

November 3, 2021

| 3:30pm - 4:30pm ET | 2:30pm - 3:30pm CT | 12:30pm - 1:30pm PT

H&M, IKEA and Walmart, in collaboration with RCC, are pleased to present a webinar on November 3. The webinar will include a panel discussion to highlight their partnership with a cohort of international climate champions to launch a new climate change initiative aimed at getting more retail players to commit to decarbonization targets.

The new Race to Zero Breakthroughs: Retail Campaign encourages retailers to come up with detailed plans for how they will cut carbon emissions and help meet the globally established goal of limiting worldwide warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. That temperature target was one of several climate-change goals laid out in 2015 as part of the Paris Agreement.

  • Other sectors such as energy, transportation and finance are doing their part. Retailers can do their share as well by signing the Race to Zero Climate Change Pledge.
  • Private sector initiatives will also be part of the focus at the upcoming COP26 meeting in Glasgow, UK from November 1-12, 2021.

What is being asked of Canadian retailers?

 

 

 

 

 

Webinar highlights will include:

  • Background on the campaign and why it’s important
  • How companies of all sizes can get involved
  • A panel discussion moderated by Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO of RCC, with the following speakers:
Register Now

Meet our Speakers

Kim Hellström, Strategy Lead Climate & Water, H&M Group

Kim is leading the long-term climate strategy for H&M Group. He has a passion for communication and transparency guided by a straightforward sense of right and wrong.
He has a special interest in corporate greenwashing and the challenges companies have around not misleading their customers or consumers all while still showing progress. He tries to focus his resources towards where the biggest impact can be reached, in our case towards energy and financial questions.

Kim is committed to work with people’s mindset and awareness, aligning them to science but more importantly, to remove fossil fuel from the supply chain and turn H&M into a Climate Positive company no later than 2040.

Michael Ward, CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer, IKEA Canada

Michael’s journey with IKEA began with what started as a one-year internship program in 1986. From there he quickly progressed to hold various positions with increased responsibilities at IKEA Canada, and then moved onto IKEA globally where he held strategic leadership roles in Sweden, the Netherlands and the United States. Michael has a passion for retail with a proven track record of driving growth and leading through change on both a country and a global level.

 

 

 

Rob Nicol, Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Communications, Walmart Canada

Rob has over 25 years of experience in public affairs, government relations, corporate philanthropy and communications. In addition to his corporate roles, Rob has served in government as Director of Communication to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Ontario Premier Mike Harris.

Rob is Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Communications at Walmart Canada. He’s responsible for the company’s internal and external communications, sustainability, community engagement, government relations, events and digital production activities.

 

 

Register Now

 

Additional resources to help businesses:

 

Province/Municipality/Utility Program
Energy Efficiency
British Columbia BC Hydro’s Business Energy-Saving Incentives, providing funding to cover about 25% of the upfront costs (on average) for upgrades to energy equipment.
Manitoba Efficiency Manitoba’s energy-efficiency programs for businesses.
Enbridge Commercial Custom Retrofit Program provides incentives that cover up to 50% of incremental project costs for boilers, water heating systems, building automation systems, and heat recovery.

 

The Fixed Incentive Program covers air curtains and dock door seals.
Nova Scotia Efficiency Nova Scotia’s Business Energy Rebate Program and Retail Program, which offers incentives to cover up to 80% of the total project cost for small businesses that consume less than 350,000 kWh annually.
Newfoundland Newfoundland Power and Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro takeCHARGE program offers rebates on energy efficient lighting and HVAC systems for retail.
Rooftop solar and eco-roofs
Saskatchewan SaskPower net metering.
Manitoba Manitoba Hydro net billing.
Ontario Hydro One net metering.
Toronto Eco-Roof Incentive Program provides grants to support the installation of green roofs and cool roofs on existing commercial, industrial and institutional buildings, and new commercial, industrial and institutional buildings with a gross floor area of less than of 2,000 m2.
Transportation
British Columbia CleanBC Go Electric has two commercial vehicle programs that provide funding to help deploy commercial ZEVs, the Specialty Use Vehicle Incentive (SUVI) Program and the Commercial Vehicle Pilots (CVP) Program. Go Electric also supports private light-duty fleets in the transition to ZEVs through their Fleets Program.

 
CRA To incentivize the purchase of zero-emission vehicles, the federal government provides tax write-offs for businesses.