Climate Week NYC given September go-ahead as ‘virtual’ event

Climate Week NYC brings together national

Non-profit organisation The Climate Group has used it’s Climate Week as a way to spur corporate action on climate change through its major business campaigns, – the RE100 initiative for companies to only source 100% renewable electricity; and EP100 – the scheme which commits businesses to double energy productivity – and the EV100 for electric vehicle uptake.

Considering that the international COP26 climate conference scheduled for November 2019 has been postponed, it was expected that Climate Week NYC’s launch date of 21 September would have to be revisited. However, the Climate Group has confirmed that the event will take place on the same week via a soon-to-be-launched virtual platform.

“We have made the decision that we cannot afford to cancel or delay the important conversations, commitments and negotiations that need to take place,” the Climate Group’s chief executive Helen Clarkson said. “The decision to postpone COP26 to 2021 was undoubtedly the correct thing to do to allow diplomatic negotiations to take place at a time when they can be given the right level of focus. We believe that Climate Week NYC has an important role to play in supporting that process at a time when it will be needed most.

“Every year we say, “For New York, For the World,” and this year will be no different. NYC will be hosting an even greater global effort in tackling climate change. We believe in a just transition; climate action must be carried out in a way that protects livelihoods. The Coronavirus pandemic how shown how our global community is willing to care and able to change.”

Climate Week NYC is run in association with the United Nations and the City of New York. It brings together national, state and regional government leaders, businesses and the broader climate sector to accelerate climate action. Last year, over 350 events took place.

Previous iterations of the event have seen global businesses sign up to efforts to source renewable energy, improve energy productivity and announce new decarbonisation plans.

Matt Mace