Straddling the Divide: Reflections on Climate Week NYC 2024

In the heart of New York City, amidst the towering skyscrapers and bustling streets, Climate Week NYC 2024 unfolded with the theme "It's Time." As I stood at the crossroads of hope and skepticism, I couldn't help but feel the weight of two opposing forces pulling at my conscience.

There's an undeniable irony in climate defenders creating carbon footprints to network when many powerful solutions already exist – just comprehensively used by far too few. The theme "It's Time" echoes like a desperate plea, a reminder that we're teetering on the edge of "too little, too late." Yet, here we were, gathered in the city that never sleeps, our presence both a testament to our commitment and a reflection of our collective struggle.

Despite my initial reservations, I found myself drawn into the vortex of energy that only comes from like-minded individuals united by a common cause. The air buzzed with possibility as inspiring speakers shared stories of innovation and resilience. From the groundbreaking partnership between Amazon and the Brazilian State of Pará to commercialize carbon credits, to the innovations shared by Ikea, Patagonia and other consistent leaders in this space as well as poignant narratives of climate displacement shared by the Jean Charles Choctaw Nation, each story added a thread to the tapestry of our shared struggle and hope.

Climate Week served as a stark reminder of both our progress and our shortcomings. We've bent the curve from a projected 4°C warming by 2100 to slightly under 3°C - a testament to our collective efforts. Yet, as we celebrated these small victories, the reality of our global challenges loomed large. The gap between net-zero pledges and actionable strategies, the slow adoption of renewable energy, and the persistent lack of climate finance for developing nations all underscore the magnitude of the work that lies ahead. And with no irony, massive hurricane Helene barreling down in Florida as many flew out just to remind us that mother earth is not happy with our extremely slow progress!

As I listened to the passionate discussions and bold declarations, a nagging question persisted: Where were those who truly needed to hear this message the most? How do we extend our reach beyond the converted, to engage leaders and organizations for whom sustainability isn't even on the radar?

As much as the kumbaya feeling is a lovely one, it's clear that inspiration alone isn't enough. We need the perspiration - the hard work, the difficult conversations, and the unwavering commitment to build the foundation for change. All of us who are here are in a position to take action and make an impact . Let’s collectively think about how each of us can expand our influence and lean in in any the following ways:

1. Incentivization: If you have the relationships of influence, encourage more governments to offer tax breaks or grants for businesses that meet certain sustainability benchmarks, creating a financial incentive for change. This does not exist in many countries. Also encourage government leaders to begin taking action and not just talk.

2. Supply Chain Pressure: If you're in a role of SCM influence, encourage partners and suppliers to meet specific sustainability standards, creating a ripple effect.

3. Education and Training: If your company has a robust and successful sustainability program, offer training for other business leaders in your industry/community, to upstream/downstream partners, helping them understand the long-term benefits of sustainable practices and how to start.

4. Public-Private Partnerships: Foster collaboration between governments, businesses, and NGOs to tackle large-scale sustainability projects. If you know an NGO doing great work, help them make the connections they need with leaders to share the information they have to facilitate action.

5. Community Engagement: Encourage businesses to involve local communities in their sustainability initiatives, creating a sense of shared responsibility. This needs to be more than the “tick the box” beach cleanup. How can your community make a real difference and provide input on ideas that they would like to see from you as well?

As we move forward, we must find ways to hold ourselves and each other accountable. This means celebrating progress while also being honest about our shortcomings. It means reaching out to those who weren't at Climate Week and finding ways to bring them into the conversation. For those of us who were there, feeling excited and inspired and made commitments - where can they be publicly documented for both collaboration and accountability? This was a week full of amazing conversation, but the same could be said about last year's event and the many in the past. Its now time to act.

As we grapple with these significant challenges, we must remember that the cost of inaction far outweighs the cost of change. Climate change is the ultimate "tragedy of the commons," where individual actions (or inactions) have global consequences. It's time to reframe sustainability not as a burden, but as an opportunity for innovation, growth, and collective progress.

It's time to move beyond talk to action, beyond pledges to implementation. It's time to bridge the gap between the convinced and the skeptical, between the leaders and the laggards. It's time to hold onto our inspiration while rolling up our sleeves for the hard work ahead because if not now, when? If not us, who? The clock is ticking. It's time!