30 September 2019: Businesses, world leaders, communities, youth activists and other stakeholders came together in New York, US, for Climate Week NYC 2019 to discuss, catalyze and demand greater climate action. More than 350 events took place throughout the Week in 11 categories.

Hosted by The Climate Group, an international non-profit organization, and organized in partnership with the UN and the City of New York, the Week’s 2019 edition convened events on: 1) Youth and Climate Activism; 2) Energy Transition; 3) Industry Transition; 4) Clean Transport, Buildings and Infrastructure; 5) Food, Land and Nature-based Solutions; 6) Climate Finance, Investment and Carbon Pricing; 7) National Government Policy and Commitment; 8) State, City and Local Action; 9) Health, Equality and Justice; 10) Sustainable Travel and Leisure; and 11) Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Change.

During the opening ceremony on 23 September, Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, President of Spain, highlighted the urgent need to accelerate climate action, and announced his country’s commitment to phasing out fossil fuels by 2050 and reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 20% by 2030. Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark, discussed Denmark’s goal to reduce emissions by 70% by 2030. Alvarado Quesada, President of Costa Rica, underscored that business needs to be part of climate action.

Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington State, US, and North American Co-Chair of Under2 Coalition, highlighted climate action by US federal states. “States are just as powerful as federal government to act against climate change. In fact, states are leading the charge,” he said.

‘The Hub,’ which was held from 24-25 September, gathered businesses, states, cities and other climate actors to “showcase how they are shaping the future economy through climate-forward initiatives and innovative solutions.”

Climate Week NYC 2019 took place on the side of the opening of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 74). It supported the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit by providing a space for organizations to extend week-long activities outside of the UN building and throughout the week. A High-level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) (23 September), the SDG Summit (24-25 September), the 2019 High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development (FfD) (26 September) and a High-level Review of Progress on SAMOA Pathway, as well as Global Goals Week 2019 also took place during the Week. [The Climate Group Press Release on Opening Ceremony] [The Climate Group Press Release on 350 Events] [The Climate Group Press Release at Week’s Closing]