Empowering Change: Takeaways and Impacts from Climate Week NYC
Anna Lim ’27
Cathy Zhang ‘26
Climate Week NYC is an annual event that involves over 900 events and activities across New York City, bringing business leaders, political changemakers, and local representatives together to discuss climate issues and present sustainability initiatives. This is the biggest climate event hosted by Climate Group, an international non-profit dedicated to taking climate action and hosting programs that bring top international businesses, institutions, and organizations into the conversation around climate change. First launched in 2009, Climate Week NYC has continued annually ever since. This year’s event, which began on September 22nd, started with an opening ceremony that featured many announcements from a diverse set of speakers representing businesses, governments, and the climate community.
During the 2024 Climate Week NYC, new vital themes were discussed during ‘The Hub Live,’ a session involving “more than 1,000 of the most influential leaders from business, government, and the climate sector”. ‘The Hub Live’ covered topics like ‘The New Industrial Revolution,’ focusing on the technological innovations of the 20th century and ways to use those advancements to address our climate challenges. Other themes included energy and transport transitions, nature, food systems and health, and leadership and green growth.
Climate Week NYC raises global awareness and brings young environmentalists to connect with the government and professionals about climate action, and this past year’s iteration yielded especially vital feedback and takeaways. Through the speaker sessions and workshops, the World Economic Forum collected information that allowed people to reflect on the event and focus on long-term solutions to contemporary climate issues. One of the reflections noted that “not every action is right for everyone,” highlighting that a tailored approach is needed for each situation rather than applying the same solution to everyone. In addition, the event concluded by stating that “climate attribution is improving in leaps and bounds,” relating the recent Hurricane Helene incident in Florida to increased environmental consciousness in our everyday actions. Participants at the event also focused on the rights of Indigenous people in relation to the notion of environmental justice.
Overall, Climate Week NYC 2024 was a successful event once again, gathering businesses and organizations around the world to discuss the future of climate action. Each year, through Climate Week NYC, individuals are driven to make decisions and train the next generation of climate leaders who are willing to work together and take action to solve our climate crisis.
References
About Us. Climate Week. (n.d.). https://www.climateweeknyc.org/about-us
7 key messages from New York Climate week 2024. World Economic Forum. (2024, October 3).
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2024/10/7-key-messages-from-new-york-climate-week-in-202 4/
Climate Week NYC 2024. Climate Group. (n.d.). https://www.theclimategroup.org/ClimateWeekNYC2024
