Climate Week NYC 2023 officially runs from September 17-24. But here at WE ACT, every week is Climate Week, so we are starting things a little early this year.
10:45 AM - 12:15 PM – Women’s Environmental Leadership Panel
Peggy Shepard and Metropolitan Group Executive Vice President, Environmental and Social Justice Focus Areas Vernice Miller-Travis (WE ACT Co-Founder and Board Member) will speak with panel moderator National Wildlife Federation Vice President of Environmental Justice, Public Health, and Community Revitalization Adrienne Hollis, PhD, JD, (former Director of Federal Policy at WE ACT) about global efforts to combat and adapt to climate change and the importance of elevating the global voices of those most impacted by the climate crisis. This is part of the annual Women’s Environmental Leadership summit.
3:47-4:47 PM – BIPOC Climate Justice Dialogue Panel
Peggy Shepard will discuss lessons learned, gaps, and opportunities to maximize Justice40 for implementing and operationalizing a just transition as part of a panel at the 3rd annual BIPOC Climate Justice Dialogue hosted by the HBCU Green Fund, Donors of Color, Columbia World Projects, and Columbia University Climate School. The event runs from 1:00-5:00 PM and will be held virtually and in-person at the Forum in Columbia University. RSVP
Sunday, September 17
11:00 AM - 4:30 PM – March to End Fossil Fuels
Join us for the March to End Fossil Fuels! We will be meeting at WE ACT’s office at 11:00 AM (1854 Amsterdam Avenue, 2nd Floor, at 152nd Street) and then head down to Midtown for this march, which will culminate in a rally near the United Nations Headquarters to demand that governments – including our own – keep fossil fuels in the ground (learn more here). RSVP
Monday, September 18
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM – Carbon Markets, Nature, Rights and Climate Justice Roundtable
Peggy Shepard will be participating in a closed roundtable hosted by the Columbia University Climate School, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, Namati, the Grassroots Justice Network, and Columbia World Projects. This invitation-only, multi-stakeholder discussion will examine the realities of policy and practice for communities living on land and sea assets valuable in the context of carbon- and biodiversity-credit markets.
9:30 AM - 1:30 PM – Making It Real: Successfully Implementing New York’s Climate Act through Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development
Charles Callaway will participate in a panel on workforce development as part of this event co-hosted by the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, New Yorkers for Clean Power, NRDC, and E2 at the Center for Fiction (15 Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn). RSVP to attend virtually or RSVP to attend in-person
5:30-7:00 PM – New York City Council Climate Week Celebration
Lonnie Portis will join Speaker Adrienne Adams along with City Council Members such as Sandy Nurse, Carmen De La Rosa, Amanda Farias, James Gennaro, and Alexa Aviles at City Hall to celebrate Climate Week. RSVP
6:30-9:30 PM – Climate Rising: Imagining the End of Fossil Fuels
Sonal Jessel will be among the speakers at this rally to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable ahead of the UN Climate Ambition Summit. It will be held in-person at the Great Hall in the Cooper Union Foundation Building (7 East 7th Street). RSVP
Wednesday, September 20
1:30-2:30 PM – What Has Cap-and-Trade Done for Us Lately?
The Metropolitan Group is hosting a virtual discussion of the benefits and drawbacks of cap-and-trade and the potential of cap-and-invest as an alternative model. Metropolitan Group Executive Vice President, Environmental and Social Justice Focus Areas Vernice Miller-Travis (WE ACT Co-Founder and Board Member) will talk with Jared Snyder, former Deputy Commissioner for Climate, Air and Energy at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Rory Christian, CEO of the New York Department of Public Service (and former WE ACT Board Member). RSVP
5:30-7:30 PM – Manhattan Clean Energy Hub Launch Reception
We are hosting an invite-only reception to celebrate the launch of the Manhattan Clean Energy Hub. This virtual Clean Energy Hub will support a just transition to renewable energy for all of Manhattan, connecting thousands of tenants, nonprofits, small businesses, and affordable homeowners to low- and no-cost renewable energy upgrades that improve indoor air quality, lower utility bills, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It will also support Manhattan residents in accessing clean energy jobs. This closed event is primarily for our partners – NYSERDA, Pratt Center, Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development, Kinetic Communities Consulting, USL Technology Inc, and Green City Force – along with elected officials.
Thursday, September 21
12:00-1:00 PM – Environmental Justice: Following the Money
Morgan Fritz will join Sameer Ranade, Climate Justice Advisor at NYSERDA’s Energy Climate Equity Team for a discussion moderated by Ronald Zorrilla of Newburgh CAC & Outdoor Promise on the EPA Region 2 TCTAC and how it can help small Hudson Valley cities and towns advance environmental justice, access clean energy, develop more resilient neighborhoods, and secure local ownership of assets. This is a virtual event hosted by Sustainable Hudson Valley and part of the Hudson Valley Climate Solutions Week. RSVP
1:45-2:30 PM – Engendering Climate Equity and Justice: Women Leaders on Impact and Solutions
Climate impacts are distributed in a starkly uneven way across nations and communities, and even within households. Explore our progress and the meaning of these dynamics towards a just and equitable future with women leaders whose experiences span public policy, government service, international relations, corporate responsibility, engineering and technology, and cultural activism. Peggy Shepard will join the panel discussion with Hafsat Abiola, Co-Founder of Connected Women Leaders, Co-Lead of Project Dandelion, & President of Women in Africa; Favianna Rodriguez, Co-Founder & President of the Center for Cultural Power; and moderator Miranda Massie, Director of the Climate Museum. RSVP
5:00-7:00 PM – Methane Matters: Strategic Communications For Climate Action Climate Week
Sonal Jessel will participate on this panel hosted by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication at Five & Dime Coffee & Cocktails (8 Park Place, between Broadway & Church).
