From record-breaking extreme weather to a new wave of commitments from cities, states, and businesses across the U.S., 2017 has been an unprecedented year for climate change.
And it’s only September.
Climate Week NYC 2017 arrives at a critical time, representing the first gathering of international climate leaders since the U.S. announced it will withdraw from the Paris Agreement. The summit, which will take place September 18-24 alongside the UN General Assembly and Global Goals Week, will advance progress on both sustainable development and climate action.
This year’s theme, “Innovation. Jobs. Prosperity.” speaks volumes about the state of that progress. Around the world, businesses, non-governmental groups, cities, states, and other subnational actors are driving climate action – and unlocking opportunities for people, economies, and the environment. To accelerate the discussion and generate new solutions, the week will feature a host of events, including exhibitions, seminars, debates, and concerts.
Climasphere, the UN Foundation’s digital account dedicated to communicating all things climate and energy, will cover the Opening Ceremony live on September 18 as well as key events on September 19.
Here are some big moments to look out for:
- California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., Washington Governor Jay Inslee, and Stephen Badger, Chairman of the Board for Mars Incorporated, and others will discuss the groundswell of climate action underway to deliver on the Paris Accord
- Two keynote addresses including one with Anne Finucane, Vice Chairman of Bank of America who will be in conversation with Rachel Kyte, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL); and a second with Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General
- Dr. Roland Busch, Chief Technology Officer and Member of Managing Board of Siemens and other leaders from Pepsi and Walmart will showcase how businesses can drive climate innovation
- Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group will headline a conversation about interesting developments in clean-tech, entrepreneurship, and the renewables investment space.
Additionally, the SDG Media Zone will stream live interviews, discussions and announcements focused on climate action throughout Thursday, September 21. To see the full list of events for the week, check out Climate Week’s Events Program.
Plus, be sure to follow Climasphere on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and the hashtag #CWNYC2017 for all the latest updates during the week.