One:
Hard Choices, Real Consequences
The forces shaping our world are shifting, but no challenge is more urgent than the changing climate. Once a distant threat, it now drives economic turmoil, energy insecurity, and environmental risk. While markets focus on inflation and governments navigate uncertainty, long-term stability depends on proactive action. A resilient economy needs a resilient planet. Investing in clean energy, resource efficiency, and modern infrastructure isn’t just about cutting emissions – it’s about unlocking growth, creating jobs, and securing our future. The choices we make today will determine whether we mitigate risk or magnify it, whether we lead or fall behind. The future is ours to shape – if we act now.
Welcome to Climate Week NYC
Keynote: The hard economics of a warming world
For today’s global leaders, hard economics, whether national growth, affordability for citizens, or corporate competitiveness are not abstract ideals but rather a measuring stick to judge success.
• How can we create the conditions for clean growth for business whilst ensuring competitiveness in a world still shaped by fossil fuel dominance?
• How do we shield citizens from the rising cost of living now, whilst investing in resilience from disaster after disaster? Let’s be clear: the transition is not about rhetoric or ideology. It’s about hard economics. And yet, for all the progress, one thing remains certain: getting this right will demand tough choices and bold action. But what do we stand to gain if we take the right path now?
Panel: The price of inaction – what could the ‘point of no return’ cost us?
If only “current policies” are implemented, the UN’s prediction of a 3°C world by the end of this century will be an environmental catastrophe and an economic disaster, too. A recent report from the NGFS shows that a global recession caused by climate change is not unforeseen. Under current policies, global GDP losses are projected to amount to 30% by 2100, and no country is immune to bearing the cost.
In this new world, extreme heat, food insecurity, financial instability, and uninsurable assets could define our new reality. To determine how we should approach the future before us, we ask:
• How prepared are we for a new climate reality to take force in our lifetime?
• What is the cost of ‘irreversible triggers’ to people and the planet – and can we afford it?
• What actions can we take to adapt to the power of a warming world?
Speech: From shock to strategy – why adaptation can’t wait
As climate shocks intensify from flooding in urban centers to droughts decimating food systems, adaptation is fast becoming a frontline issue. Yet while decarbonization pledges dominate the headlines, the reality is that the benefits of these commitments may take decades to materialize, leaving communities and businesses exposed in the near term.
As governments and companies start to reframe adaptation as both risk management and opportunity, one question looms large: What must leaders do now to prepare for a world where climate disruption is the new baseline?
Panel: When the (Mississippi) river runs low – why climate connects us all
The Mississippi River is more than just water; it’s an economic engine, a cultural lifeline, and a source of sustenance for millions, but will its value remain intact in a climate-stressed world? We explore the interdependencies of those dependent on the river and the innermost considerations of those downstream. How does one river’s resilience reflect the ecosystem risk to communities far and wide?
Should we rethink where we farm and how we build? How can we channel indigenous knowledge to bolster ecological resilience? And, who bears the financial burden once nature fights back?
In conversation: Taking a (subnational) stand for a sustainable future
The consequences of an unchecked climate crisis are here. We saw wildfires blaze close to home, energy prices are squeezing budgets for corporations and communities, and the future feels uncertain. This isn’t about politics, climate risk crosses all borders, and so must our response. From all sides of the aisle, states and regions are joining forces to lead from below; protecting communities, creating jobs, and building resilience, but real progress means adapting plans to local realities while working together at scale.
We ask, how are states deepening bipartisan collaboration in a complex world? How can states grow clean energy without leaving anyone behind? What are leaders doing to hold polluters accountable and protect communities?
Part Two: Power
On
The fight against climate change has been hard-won, the global direction is clear - the transition is unstoppable. Despite political turbulence, and economic uncertainty, now is the time to power on. But how do we unleash the full force of renewables, electrify industries, and accelerate innovation in the current environment?
For the coalition of the willing, the competitive advantage has already begun paying dividends. But how do we realize the full potential of a cleaner, more secure future for all?
In conversation: How to make green pay in an era of uncertainty
As economic headwinds and global trade competition intensify, business leaders are making hard choices, not just about being green, but about staying green. From scaling green R&D and unlocking sustainable finance to future-proofing supply chains and driving tech innovation, we explore how sustainability is being deployed as a strategic asset, not just a compliance exercise.
Is green investment a cost, or a hedge against volatility, regulation, and reputational risk? And in today’s climate of uncertainty, how can bold climate commitments deliver both environmental impact and commercial advantage?
Panel: All in – protecting profit and planet in the real economy
With sustainability now a cornerstone of business strategy, producers of goods and services must drive positive impact beyond their operations to strengthen competitiveness, meet expectations, and limit risk. We see sector leaders powering on with investment in electrification, clean energy, and green technology, a feat that should reap rewards in market value, cost savings, and efficiency.
But how are corporates continuing to demonstrate that being green pays?
• How is the green competitive advantage playing out in today’s economic climate?
• How are corporates maintaining profitability today whilst investing in a green future?
• What actions can policymakers take to strengthen the business case for transition?
Speech: The power shift – from clean power to world power
The age of clean energy is not just coming, it’s here. With the cost of renewables plummeting and the promise of nearzero-cost power on the horizon, the economic case for transformation is undeniable. But to realize the full potential of this power shift, we need policy frameworks that are flexible, stable, and long-term. Clean energy is now the foundation of national security, resilience, and global competitiveness. The nations that lead will not achieve their NDCs; they’ll define the future economy.
In conversation: From grassroots to global – turning public momentum into policy change
The fight for climate action has always started with people. Grassroots movements have shaped history, demanding justice, shifting policy, and holding power to account. Today, with 4 in 5 people globally calling for stronger climate leadership, the public mandate for change has never been clearer.
In a world of constant noise and fleeting focus, it’s time to turn voices into action and power on. This session explores how people power can help accelerate the global transition already underway.
Q&A: The safe wager – betting on the planet, for the long-term
In a time of rising climate anxiety, geopolitical volatility, and wavering trust in commitment to climate, the transition from pledges to tangible progress is under sharp scrutiny. We invite frontline changemakers into the spotlight, posing the critical questions that define our path forward, from what it really takes to reach real zero, to roadmap for a green fuels and technologies, an urgent decarbonization of heavy industry, and the role of climate philanthropy in bridging the delivery gap. With corporate sustainability at a crossroads, the conversation will explore what it means to make a truly safe wager for business and for the planet.
Closing remarks