EcoActor’s Roundup from Climate Week NYC 2023

This past week the EcoAct North America team attended the events around New York City for the 15^th annual Climate Week NYC 2023  hosted by Climate Group. This year’s overarching theme, “We Can. We Will” and brought together a diverse assembly of individuals, including business leaders, policymakers, local change agents, and representatives from civil society. Hailing from all corners of the globe and spanning various ages and backgrounds, these participants united with a shared purpose: to accelerate the transition, amplify our progress, and champion ongoing change.

Our expanding New York-based team actively participated in various events throughout the week, engaging in discussions on how companies can accelerate their journey towards achieving net-zero emissions.

 

Climate March

Samanvitha Danda, Consultant

Climate Week kicked off with the Climate March, attracting approximately 75,000 people, a remarkable turnout that far exceeded the expected 10,000 attendees! A diverse array of groups came together to amplify their voices, including indigenous communities, youth, and representatives from global south. This remarkable display of unity captured the attention of the White House.

Marchers like myself were pleased to see some action being taken this week, when President Biden announced the launching of the “American Climate Corps.” This initiative focuses on workforce training and service programs to provide youth with the, ‘skills necessary to access good-paying jobs aligned with high-quality employment opportunities after completing their paid training or service program.’[1]

 

Hub Live

William Theisen, North America CEO

Having attended the Hub Live event over the last few years, it was encouraging to see a shift in the focus this year among business, government, and climate leaders. Unlike previous years, where speakers primarily emphasized commitments and ambitions, the emphasis now seems to be on enabling and implementing climate initiatives. One notable highlight was a panel featuring Kate Brandt from Google, Judit Wiese from siemens AG, and Emily Schuckburgh from the University of Cambridge. They spoke on how their expertise and technologic innovations are being harnessed to significantly reduce carbon emissions in collaboration with both cities and industry.

While impending regulation such as CSRD and SEC may be seen as the major hurdle for private sector with ESG disclosure requirements, companies and other institutions that have been investing on climate and sustainability are now capitalizing on increased demand and growth opportunities. Furthermore, government representatives stressed their commitment to creating an enabling environment for both the public and private sectors to achieve net-zero goals. Companies and organizations that continue to focus on transforming to more sustainability operations, will not only increase competitiveness but also contribute to the transition to a a net-zero and more sustainable economy.

 

World Biodiversity Summit

Ruaridh Welsh, Consultant, Samanvitha Danda, Consultant, Liz Post, Marketing

This marked EcoAct’s second year attending The World Biodiversity Summit organized by the World Climate Foundation. The discussions this year centered around the pressing imperative of biodiversity restoration and the vital role of integrating nature into the fight against climate change while empowering local communities. These two objectives must harmonize as we cannot achieve limiting 1.5C global warming without protecting and restoring nature.

During the event, a recurring theme was the pivotal role of indigenous communities who safeguard and nurture 80% of the worlds biodiversity despite comprising less than 5% of the worlds population. One particular impactful moment occurred during the panel discussion, ‘Bridging Land and Sea – Water Stewardship’s Role in Enhancing Ecological and Economic Prosperity’ where Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, the President of the Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad, emphasized the significance of listening to indigenous voices. These individuals possess unparalleled knowledge derived from their close connection to the land and offer invaluable insights for overcoming some of the most challenging  biodiversity obstacles.

EcoActor’s were inspired to hear and be a part of conversations around the food – biodiversity nexus, the development and financing of biodiversity markets and the role of corporations to preserve biodiversity and function within the limits of nature.

 

See you at Climate Week 2024!

Climate Week NYC 2023 has been insightful and motivating. We witnessed a shift towards tangible action and collaboration across various sectors, underscoring the urgency of addressing climate change and biodiversity conservation. The intersection of climate initiatives, workforce development, and the crucial role of indigenous communities has highlighted the path toward a sustainable and equitable future. As EcoAct continues its commitment to driving positive change, we are more inspired than ever to contribute to the global effort to combat climate change and protect our planet’s biodiversity.

[1] https://www.whitehouse.gov/climatecorps/