A curated guide to help you make the most of New York Climate Week.
Climate Week NYC will take place amid significant political and policy shifts, but the need for climate action has never been more urgent. At our 2024 Climate Week Lab Session we convened leaders working at the nexus of climate, infrastructure, health, workforce, and technology to explore how a changing climate demands new approaches across sectors — from making healthcare systems more resilient to rethinking education and workforce development. While the federal policy and funding environment looks dramatically different than it did twelve months ago, the fundamental questions we asked haven’t lost their urgency.
Despite political headwinds, state and local governments continue to act decisively on climate challenges, major funders remain committed to solutions, and industries from insurance to agriculture are increasingly reckoning with climate impacts on their operations and bottom lines. Since The Climate Group launched Climate Week in 2009 to coincide with the UN General Assembly, the event has evolved into a critical opportunity to nurture cross-sector collaboration and innovation. Next week, our team will participate in panel discussions about the future of federal innovation policy, join the Bezos Earth Fund to learn about progress leveraging AI for climate and nature, and meet with partners across the climate and innovation sector.
Monday, September 22
Leaders in Sustainability & Health Networking Breakfast, hosted by Deloitte
Luminary Labs Founding Partner and CEO Sara Holoubek will kick off Climate Week with a networking breakfast to connect with other leaders committed to health and sustainability.
U.S. Clean Energy & Industrial Innovation Report Launch & Climate Week Kick-Off, hosted by Net Zero Insights (NZI)
Greg Remsen will attend this Climate Week kick-off event, where NZI will launch a new report on the U.S. clean energy innovation ecosystem for investors, corporate leaders, utilities, and government representatives. In addition to sharing report findings, the event will feature two expert panels and a networking reception.
Narrative Change Summit, hosted by Climate Film Festival
Jessica Hibbard and Andrew Wallace will represent our Communications & Insights team at the Narrative Change Summit, where storytellers, cultural leaders, and business innovators will convene to explore how creative media can mainstream climate solutions and mobilize real-world action.
MIT Solve Challenge Finals, hosted by MIT Solve
The Solve Challenge Finals bring together promising social impact innovators, with live pitches from globally-selected solvers competing for over $1.5 million in prize funding. The event creates transformative connections between breakthrough solutions and the leaders who can help scale them. Luminary Labs Partner and President Janna Gilbert will be there to explore how open innovation continues to accelerate solutions to humanity’s most pressing challenges.
Tuesday, September 23
Accelerating City Climate Innovation, hosted by the Rockefeller Foundation and LACI
Rebecca Meyer will join technology providers, green finance experts, and city leaders to explore how to drive climate innovation in cities. This event will highlight LACI’s inaugural City Climate Innovation Challenge, which focuses on zero-emission delivery using EV infrastructure solutions and last-mile delivery technologies.
Energy Forum @ UNGA80, hosted by Foreign Policy
This Climate Week forum will convene high-level policymakers, industry leaders, and technology experts to discuss how to balance energy reliability, sustainability, and access globally. Greg Remsen will be there and listening for practical approaches and cross-sector partnerships to unlock new development opportunities in a complex world.
Wednesday, September 24
AI for Climate and Nature, hosted by Bezos Earth Fund and TED Countdown
Our team will join a special TED Countdown event presented by the Bezos Earth Fund focused on AI for Climate and Nature. The evening will feature curated TED talks that answer the question: “How can modern AI help solve climate change and nature loss?,” a question we explored in the AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge, a $100 million initiative from the Bezos Earth Fund.
Climate Tech Showcase: Supporting Early-Stage Climate Tech Innovation, hosted by NY Climate Exchange
Rebecca Meyer will also attend the Climate Tech Showcase, featuring participants in the Exchange’s signature incubation program, the Climate Tech Fellowship. This event will provide opportunities to connect with emerging innovators and learn about the latest developments in the early-stage climate tech ecosystem.
Thursday, September 25
The Next Frontiers of Federal Clean Energy Innovation and Technology Policy, hosted by Clean Air Task Force and Cornell University Atkinson Center
Rebecca Meyer will speak on a panel exploring the next frontiers of federal clean energy innovation and technology policy intersection of innovation, policy, and climate action. The discussion will examine current clean energy policy status, identify key gaps in the U.S. innovation ecosystem, and explore future federal innovation policy directions.
Rooted and Ready: Planning & Designing Next Generation Resilience Hubs, hosted by Climate Resilience Consulting
The panel with CRC, ONE, and Rebuild will discuss how government agencies, corporations, philanthropy, and community leaders can collaborate to make resilience hubs a part of current budgets and will include descriptions of investments and partnerships that are critical for bold impact in improving community health, economics, and overall wellbeing through resilience hub planning and implementation. Greg Remsen will be in attendance.
Friday September 26
Oceans as a Focal Point for NYC’s Climate Future, hosted by The NY OceanTech Summit
NYC’s unique position as a maritime hub takes center stage at this interactive OceanTech workshop, designed to energize climate action through ocean innovation and economic opportunity. Participants will contribute to a forward-looking vision for how the city can lead the Blue Economy. Janna Gilbert will dive into discussions on how New York’s talent, infrastructure and financial networks can accelerate ocean-based climate solutions.
This is only a small selection of what’s on offer during Climate Week NYC and the UN General Assembly. Explore the full Climate Week NYC events calendar and these other resources to make the most of your time this September: