Part 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.
Speakers:
Hon. Gaston Browne – Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda
André Corrêa do Lago – COP30 President-Designate
Simon Stiell – Executive Director, UNFCC
Hon. Ralph Regenvanu – Minister of Climate Change, Republic of Vanuatu
Dr. Sabine Mauderer – First Deputy Governor and CFO, Deutsche Bundesbank
Angie Lassman – Meteorologist, NBC News
Mark Patel – Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company
Brad Bark – Mayor of Muscatine, Iowa
Farmer Lee Jones – Regenerative Farmer & Founder, The Chef’s Garden
Melisa Logan – Mayor of Blytheville, Arkansas
Alicia Bárcena Ibarra – Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico
Registration
Welcome to Climate Week NYC
Keynote: The hard economics of a warming world
For leaders on the frontlines, hard economics is not abstract. It is the reality of driving growth and affordability while facing the rising costs of climate disasters.
• How do we build clean, competitive economies in a world still dominated by fossil fuels?
• How do we shield citizens from today’s cost-of-living pressures while investing in resilience for tomorrow?
The transition is not about rhetoric or ideology; it is about survival and sound economics. Getting it right will demand tough choices and bold action. But if we act now, we can protect the vulnerable and unlock sustainable prosperity for all.
In conversation: The time is now – rebuilding trust in a decade that delivers
With the next round of NDCs on the horizon, the clock isn’t just ticking, it’s roaring. We know ambition alone won’t cut it. Implementation is everything. With the foundations laid, the focus must shift from ambition to acceleration, and it’s time to ask the hard questions: Are we designing NDCs that drive real change or just recycling aged commitments? Has climate diplomacy become too comfortable? Can multilateralism still deliver when trust is fractured, and timelines keep slipping?
In conversation: 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: Rising above the headwinds – harnessing tailwinds for accelerated decarbonization
The world has built meaningful momentum toward the energy transition, yet the scale of the challenge is coming into sharper focus. New forces are emerging ranging from the rise of AI to a shifting policy landscape and evolving geopolitical trends. These dynamics bring new complexities but also the potential for tailwinds. How can leaders best understand this moment of uncertainty - and can they seize it to accelerate decarbonization while sustaining growth?
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?
Speech: At a crossroads – defining the future we choose
Floods, fires, and heatwaves are exposing the fragile links between social justice, and sustainability, especially across the Global South. For us, climate change is not just an environmental challenge; it is a moral and ethical test of our civilization. The hope is that we act boldly enough to avoid the stark trade-off between protecting the planet and safeguarding livelihoods; a choice we must not be forced to make.
Networking break
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?
Speakers:
Hon. Chris Bowen – Minister for Climate Change and Energy of Australia
Donny Simmons – Group President, Americas Region, Trane Technologies
Carine Smith Ihenacho – Chief Governance and Compliance Officer, Norges Bank Investment Management
Ezgi Barcenas – Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer, L'Oréal Group
Dan Ioschpe – COP30 High Level Champion
Damilola Ogunbiyi – Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and CEO of Sustainable Energy for All Mark Ruffalo – Actor and Co-Founder, The Solutions Project
Gloria Walton – CEO, The Solutions Project
Shyla Raghav – Chief Climate Officer, TIME
Dr. Andrew Forrest AO – Chairman, Fortescue Metals Group
Teresa Ribera – Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition
Patrick Verkooijen – President and CEO, Global Center on Adaptation
H.E. Dr. William Ruto – President of the Republic of Kenya
Speech: From energy transition to energy stability
Clean energy is no longer just an environmental goal, it is the cornerstone of competitiveness and national and global security. As societies confront geopolitical volatility, climate disruption, and rising energy demand, the ability to secure reliable, resilient, and renewable power systems will determine stability and strength.
The scaling of clean technologies and the strengthening of grids are not simply technical tasks but strategic imperatives. The countries that lead will not only safeguard their citizens and economies, they will set the rules of the new energy order and define what security means in the decades ahead.
In conversation: The ROI of sustainability 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.
Speech:
The
opportunity case for acceleration
We stand at the tipping point of transformation. With the right choices, climate action becomes the catalyst for smarter economies, stronger societies, and a more secure world. While climate impacts may happen to us, the response is ours to shape. By turning decarbonization into a driver of clean competition and sustainable growth, we choose not just to adapt, but to lead.
Speech: The resilience endgame – building prosperity through climate adaptation
As climate impacts accelerate, adaptation has become a frontline priority, essential not just for protecting communities but for unlocking sustainable growth. No longer just a cost to bear, adaptation is smart economics; it delivers resilience, drives innovation, and creates economic opportunity. From climate-smart infrastructure to more secure food systems and innovative finance, adaptation is already generating jobs and mobilizing billions. This is a call for bold leadership to scale what works and turn climate risk into resilient, inclusive growth.
Keynote: Fix the system, fuel the shift – rewriting the rules for a just, clean economy
The world stands at a pivotal moment with Africa at the epicenter – rich in potential, young in spirit, and on the frontlines of a crisis it did not create. For too long, development and climate action have been treated as competing priorities. But growth and green are not antithetical. They are two sides of the same coin.
To ‘power on’, we will need to:
• Reform the global financial system and bridge the funding gap
• Build resilience where it’s needed most
• Restore trust in multilateral cooperation
This is our chance to reshape economies, unlock inclusive progress, and prove that climate action is development done right. The world is watching, and Africa is ready to lead. Let’s deliver.
Closing remarks
End of Opening Ceremony