29-05-2025
Will Climate Week NYC 2025 Be A Bust? 'NO!' Says Six Key Insiders
TOPSHOT - People cross the Brooklyn Bridge calling for leaders to "Tear down the pillars of fossil ... More fuels" during a Youth Global Climate demonstration ahead of the UN Climate week and General Assembly in New York City on September 20, 2024. (Photo by Alex KENT / AFP) (Photo by ALEX KENT/AFP via Getty Images)
Climate Week NYC 2025 is fast approaching. With just a few months left for organizations to decide whether or not they want to participate this year, given the current political climate in the United States, it's critical to get a read on the pulse of what is being anticipated come September.
One key indicator is that the New York Times announced yesterday that it will return to Climate Week NYC with The Climate Forward Live Event for its fourth consecutive year.
I asked 6 key players affiliated with Climate Week NYC for their thoughts on what to expect. Angela Barranco, Executive Director of Climate Group North America—arguably the central convener for Climate Week NYC—describes it as 'the biggest global event of its kind, bringing together tens of thousands of people from all over the world. It's more than just a week of events—it's the moment that shapes how businesses and governments act on climate for months and even years afterward.'
Barranco went on to explain the critical importance of climate week this year. She states,
Barranco's sentiments seem to prevail across Climate Week NYC insiders. Let's hear what some others have said.
More people are concerned about the health of the planet than ever before and that's why Climate Week in 2025 will be the biggest yet. Being the hottest year ever recorded, 2024 also produced a record amount of extreme weather and gave us a clear picture of the future we do not want. People want a more stable, resilient, and sustainable future and at the same time many businesses are seeing that environmental responsibility is good business. There are many forces at work to create a brighter future full of opportunity and Climate Week 2025 will be unsurpassed in terms of impact.
The Nest Climate Campus is an official partner of Climate Week NYC and takes over the Javits Center on Manhattan's west side. The Nest Climate Campus boasts 9407 attendees last year (up over 50% from 2023), 4383 partner organizations, and 150+ main stage speakers. Attendees can enjoy sponsored sessions on the main stage and various pop up talks and panels on the main floor with celebrities like Bill Nye and Adam Met as featured below.
Dr. Sweta Chakraborty and Dr. Adam Met interviewing Bill Nye at the NEST Climate Campus at Climate ... More Week 2024
Food Tank —'the think tank for food'—will take over NPR Studios' The Greene Space during Climate Week NYC 2025 as it did last year. President Danielle Nierenberg said,
We Don't Have Time will broadcast live from Climate Week NYC and amplify global reach through studios in Sweden and Kenya. We Don't Have Time partners with organizations ranging from the Clinton Global Initiative to sustainable fashion non-profits like Fashion4Development for the purpose of sharing both innovation and industry progress. We Don't Have Time founder, Ingmar Rentzhog, states:
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 18: Ingmar Rentzhog attends Fashion 4 Development's 3rd Annual ... More Sustainable Goals Banquet at 583 Park Avenue on September 18, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) plans to show up in force!
At a time when the U.S. is experiencing the largest increase in demand for energy since World War II, it is more important than ever that we deploy as much solar and storage as possible. The Solar Energy Industries Association is taking – and will continue to take – that message to every corner of America, including NYC Climate Week.
Solitaire Townsend, founder of the change agency, Futerra, describes the establishment of another Climate Week NYC staple: Solutions House. She explains how the House was born when 'Futerra's team in NYC pushed aside a few desks and invited our clients and friends into our offices for small but highly energetic sessions.'
She goes on to say that in 2025 'we'll be hosting our largest events yet, in a dedicated 300-seat venue with breakouts, immersion screens and a coffee bar. We've raised more funding, and secured more partners, this year than ever before. Why? Because appetite for solutions, for unexpected content, and for real debate, hasn't dimmed at all.'
Definitely a resounding 'NO' according to the 6 key climate players interviewed for this piece. It seems that engagement and participation in Climate Week NYC is an increasing trend especially in recent years.
Sure there are fears around speaking up on climate action in the current political climate, but it's clear from those actively working on climate that it's more important than ever to engage. It is possible, however, that this engagement will come primarily from US-based climate advocates. As Ingmar Rentzhog puts it,
It remains to be seen just how well attended Climate Week NYC will be in 2025 while the Trump Administration is in power. Perceptions of fear held by climate advocates, whether unfounded or not, can ultimately motivate behavioral outcomes like whether or not to engage in Climate Week NYC 2025. It's clear from the climate insiders interviewed for this piece that not only are they not backing down, but rather that they are ramping up their efforts.
