“We can. We will”: Climate Week NYC

Climate Week NYC is just around the corner. This year’s theme, “We can. We will” reflects the focus of this year’s event on showcasing existing world-leading climate projects and vital discussions of how to practically scale more action, faster.

The major annual event hosted by the Climate Group and New York City, in conjunction with the UN General Assembly (UNGA) opens this Sunday 17 September, with some 400 sessions taking place across the city.

The UN Climate Change High-Level Champions will participate in numerous events, convening key stakeholders to crowd-in and scale public and private capital in alignment with goals of the Paris Agreement and the Global Biodiversity Framework.

During the opening ceremony, H.E. Ms Al Mubarak will highlight that there can be no Paris Agreement without protecting nature — unless we halt the erosion of nature we will destroy one of our main climate action levers. Moreover, H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak will raise the critical need to preserve our oceans, since it’s estimated that ocean-based mitigation options can reduce the emissions gap by more than a fifth, based on a 1.5 °C pathway by 2050.

H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak will also discuss the role of the Global Stocktake as a critical lever to engage all stakeholders in a just transition to a 1.5C, resilient and inclusive world.

The key focus areas of the Climate Champions Team at this year’s events are:

• The release of our second annual Breakthrough Agenda Report, in partnership with IRENA, IEA and the Breakthrough Agenda Team, at a High-level virtual media roundtable on the 14/15 September.
• The Champions will join forces with the UN Regional Commissions, and the COP27 and COP28 Presidencies to host a side event on ‘Regional Platforms for Climate Projects: Building an Impactful Climate Finance Marketplace’ on the 17th September. The event will demonstrate SDG 17 (Partnerships for Sustainable Development) in action, heightening the visibility of projects for public and private investors, as well as developers of projects on climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience.
• Evidence of the significant progress made against the Sharm-El Sheikh Adaptation Agenda (SAA) adaptation outcomes, especially Health, Finance and Loss and Damage. For example, a roundtable on New Transformative Loss & Damage Facility for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on the 18th September.
• Showcasing progress on nature initiatives, including transforming food systems and leveraging private finance to build resilience and drive a net zero and nature positive future. For example, on the 18th September, at the event ‘Unlocking the Catalytic Potential of Private Finance to Accelerate Delivery of a Net Zero and Nature-Positive Future’, a new Climate Champions-led paper will be launched on the Nature-Climate Nexus – helping to catalyze private capital for nature-based solutions (NbS).
• Driving the ambition loop through stronger net zero policy and regulation. For example, on 19th September, the event ‘Driving the Road to Regulation’ will discuss the role for non-Party stakeholders to clear and fair ground rules for a just and resilient net zero economy, which would turbocharge voluntary action and halve emissions by 2030.
• Harnessing the knowledge of Indigenous Peoples for the implementation of climate action. For example, on Friday 22 September, H.E. Ms. Al Mubarak and Shamma Al Mazrui, the COP28 Youth Climate Champion will address an event on Indigenous Peoples’ (IP)’s inclusion and engagement, reporting back on IP related progress towards a more sustainable and healthier future, with a view to building momentum to COP28 and beyond.

With Africa Climate Week / Summit recently highlighting the immense opportunities and appetite for climate action on the continent, NYCW will flip attention back to the Global North, where the Champions will galvanize leadership on climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building.

Find out more here