26 September 2016
Climate Week NYC Features Business-Smart, Low-Emission Commitments
story highlights

Set in the context of an upcoming US presidential election and during the first UN General Assembly (UNGA) since the Paris Agreement was adopted, the eighth Climate Week NYC focused on promoting investment in innovation, technology and clean energy to drive profitability and progress toward net zero emissions.

Stressing that a net zero emissions future depends greatly on decisions of the next US administration and Congress, global business and government leaders gathered in New York, US to raise the profile of smart climate action that, according to The Climate Group, can "create a cleaner, healthier, more prosperous America."

climate-week-nyc25 September 2016: Set in the context of an upcoming US presidential election and during the first UN General Assembly (UNGA) since the Paris Agreement was adopted, the eighth Climate Week NYC focused on promoting investment in innovation, technology and clean energy to drive profitability and progress toward net zero emissions. Stressing that a net zero emissions future depends greatly on decisions of the next US administration and Congress, global business and government leaders gathered in New York, US to raise the profile of smart climate action that, according to The Climate Group, can “create a cleaner, healthier, more prosperous America.”

Taking place from 19-25 September and organized by The Climate Group, Climate Week NYC 2016 opened with the Empire State Building lighting up green and a number of “green” business announcements at the opening ceremony, themed ‘America Means Business: US Leadership in a Post-Paris World.’ Many corporate announcements focused on the business case for low-emission investments, demonstrating that a healthy planet and prosperous economy can go hand-in-hand. Retailer Bambeco announced it will become carbon neutral by 2020, making it the first home goods company to do so. The company will also offset the emissions of attendees to the opening ceremony by planting a tree for each retweet about the offsets for one year.

In addition, Amalgamated Bank, Apple and Bank of America announced on opening day that they joined RE100 – an initiative that commits businesses to sourcing 100% of their electricity from renewable energy. RE100 is an initiative of The Climate Group in partnership with CDP, as part of the We Mean Business coalition. Amalgamated Bank is attempting to reach 100% by 2017, Apple by 2018 and Bank of America, which also committed to carbon neutrality, by 2020. Apple’s announcement also highlighted the need to push renewable energy into supply chains, noting that an estimated 77% of its emissions come from its supply chain.

On 20 September, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, VF Corporation and Wells Fargo & Co. joined in, adding their commitments to the initiative. With a total of 12 new companies, including General Motors, joining during Climate Week NYC, the initiative has reached 81 members. Noting it is “widely acknowledged that we will not succeed in keeping a global temperature rise below 2°C without significant corporate leadership on energy,” The Climate Group Acting CEO Damian Ryan stressed that corporate leadership “is what we are seeing here today.”

During the Week, CDP released a report demonstrating the “the Paris effect,” meaning that more than 600 companies are factoring in the goals of the Paris Agreement in their business planning and strategy. These 600 companies combined are worth US$12 trillion, according to CDP. However, businesses are not the only ones making such moves. Representing the current US administration at the opening ceremony, Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz reaffirmed the US commitment to leadership on climate change, highlighting the initiative of the US and other countries under Mission Innovation to spur research and development in clean energy.

The Week included dozens of events throughout the city, including a panel highlighting how the RE100 is now complemented by The Climate Group’s latest initiative, EP100, which focuses on business commitments to double energy productivity to ensure they are making the most of the energy they do consume. Other events focused on topics such as urban sustainability, sub-national government action, carbon risk disclosure, green jobs, sustainable investment, implementing the Paris Agreement, adaptation, pricing carbon and energy efficiency. [About Climate Week NYC 2016] [The Climate Group Press Release on Opening Ceremony] [The Climate Group Press Release on Bambeco] [RE100 Press Release on Amalgamated Bank, Apple and Bank of America] [RE100 Press Release on Hewlett Packard, VF and Wells Fargo] [RE100 Press Release on RE100 and EP100 Event] [The Climate Group News and Briefings] [CDP Press Release] [The Paris Effect: How Business Is Factoring in the Paris Agreement] [The Climate Group Press Release on US Administration] [IISD RS Story on Climate Week NYC 2015]


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