By Colleen Connors
From the outside looking in, it might be easy to dismiss Climate Week NYC as mere pomp and circumstance. From Chief Executive Officers to notable figures like Prince Harry and the acclaimed actor Don Cheadle, many impressive names were in attendance to offer their views on overcoming the climate crisis. Coinciding with the High-Level Week of the United Nations General Assembly, Manhattan was also the home for the week for Heads of State and diplomats from all corners of the globe. It was a veritable who’s who of climate advocates, alongside stalwarts of multilateralism and diplomacy, taking the stage or joining a panel, all under the spotlight.
However, with approximately 100,000 expected attendees, the size and scale of the event series also allowed for deeper insights and examples of those doing the climate walk, not just the climate talk. While the insights gleaned from the big stages were abundant — enough to fill several volumes if attendees’ LinkedIn posts are any indication — the true value of Climate Week NYC lies in what happens off-stage when the cameras are no longer rolling.
The unique convergence of diverse climate expertise in one place created fertile ground for candid and sometimes provocative discussions during those in-between moments and networking breaks. Whether in hushed conversations or animated exchanges, attendees posed challenging questions, shared strategic ideas and debated various pathways to achieving a 1.5°C future.
James Viray, global head of Corporate Sustainability at GHD, has worked with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), governments and corporations in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America to develop shared value for communities and companies. He developed his expertise on sustainable development through conducting assessments, engaging stakeholders from village chiefs to presidents, and designing and implementing global development projects.
The plethora of events and activities also allowed topics like biodiversity, nature, new technologies and human rights to come to the forefront. The fourth annual World Biodiversity Summit, organized by the World Climate Foundation, saw its highest participation yet, with the event space so full there was a line outside to get in. Panellist Isobel Ashbey, head of Biodiversity and Nature Tech at Cambridge Consultants, skipped over the platitudes and offered a word of caution to the crowd, saying, “We need to stop thinking about [nature] as a disclosure issue or a measurement issue.” She highlighted the role of innovation in creating dual benefits for nature and the economy and emphasized the need for building life cycle assessments into the design stage of developing new products.
Niki Mardas, executive director of Global Canopy, meanwhile, pointed to the challenges of turning nature-related risks into business opportunities, saying, “When it comes to actually making the case to finance in particular that climate change represents an immediate and urgent risk to the bottom line, we don’t appear to be winning that argument everywhere that we should.”
On the other side of Manhattan, at The Nest Climate Campus, Probable Futures’ Spencer Glendon emphasized the need for adaptable infrastructure to prepare for different climate scenarios. He also shared a unique viewpoint on adaptation, saying, “There are no solutions. There are myriad strategies.” Glendon’s comments addressed the elephant in the room: stalling climate action is not due to a lack of solutions but failure to implement strategies.
Climate-focused events can get a bad rap by neglecting to meaningfully engage with the communities most at risk of — and least responsible for — the impacts of climate change. Climate Week NYC made a concerted effort to engage with those most at risk, including young people, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Indigenous communities.
Discussions tackled the tough realities of the energy transition, including heightened water stress, concerns around mining for energy transition minerals and the importance of Free, Prior and Informed Consult (FPIC) in project plans. At Futerra’s Solutions House 2024, speakers underscored the potential for businesses to learn from Indigenous communities’ traditional ecological knowledge. Unlike typical Western perspectives that often frame nature as a resource for humans to leverage, Indigenous approaches emphasize reciprocity and balance with the natural world. Embracing this diversity in sustainability strategies can strengthen adaptation efforts and lead to more effective, holistic outcomes.
At The Hub Live, Prime Minister Philip E. Davis of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, was a voice for SDIS, saying, “I watch the tides rise higher each year, feel the storms grow stronger and witness first-hand the relentless advance of a warming world. But nothing could have prepared me for the news that shook us all — for the first time, global warming has exceeded 1.5°C for an entire year.” His remarks set the tone for upcoming climate gatherings, COP16 and COP29, where business representatives will explore how public-private partnerships can support countries’ nationally determined contributions (NDCs) — the climate pledges made under the Paris Agreement.
This may be one of the strongest arguments in support of events like Climate Week NYC, demonstrating that beyond the buzz and flowery rhetoric, discussions from the week can lay the groundwork for real-world impact.
Colleen Connors is the global sustainability communications lead for GHD. Stay tuned for further highlights from Environment Journal’s correspondent at Climate Week NYC.
