5 Virtual Events to Check Out This Climate Week NYC

This September is no different. Despite the coronavirus, Climate Week NYC is returning for its 12th year next week from Sept. 21 to 27, making it the largest climate summit taking place this year. And, because of the new focus on virtual events, you don’t have to physically be in New York City to participate.

“We’re really excited that Climate Week NYC is going to be able to bring together so many important events and conversations, both in New York City and around the world,” head of Climate Week NYC Adam Lake told EcoWatch in an email. “With an understandably strong focus on digital events this year, we’re grateful to work with Facebook to help support event organizers use tools and platforms to host events and connect with the climate community. Together, Climate Week NYC 2020 will be the most engaging, inclusive and truly global Climate Week we’ve ever seen.”

All of the Climate Group’s events will be available to watch on its Facebook page starting Monday. The page will also feature highlights of more than 350 affiliated events being organized in New York City and elsewhere. You can check out the full events calendar here. But, to help you out, here are five free Climate Week NYC events you can participate in from the comfort and safety of your couch.

1. Play for the Planet: Are you a musician or artist? Do you care about stopping climate change? ClimateMusic is asking artists to send them their answers to short interview questions, concluding with a video answer to the prompt, “What do you want the future to sound like?” The responses will appear in a series of testimonials on the organization’s website. Participants are also encouraged to share their answers on social media using the hashtags #PlayforthePlanet and #ClimateMusic. All week.

2. Chance of a Lifetime? How Governments and Businesses are Achieving a Green Economic Recovery: Listen to business, non-profit and government leaders discuss how we can recover from the coronavirus pandemic in a way that halves greenhouse gas emissions in the next 10 years. This Climate Group hosted event will feature speakers including Climate Group CEO Helen Clarkson, AstraZeneca Executive Vice President Katarina Ageborg and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos. Watch on the Climate Group’s Facebook Watch page. Tuesday, Sept. 22, 9:45 – 11:25 a.m.

3. Expressing Climate Grief: Are you overwhelmed with emotion when you think about everything happening to the earth and its creatures? Sustaining All Life and United to End Racism will lead a digital workshop in expressing these emotions and healing them so that you can go back into your community and work to stop the climate crisis without burning out. Register here. Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1 – 2:30 p.m.

4. Climate Insights 2020: Climate Change and the American Voter: With the November election less than two months away, everyone wants to know how climate change will impact voters’ decisions. Speakers including Katharine Hayhoe of Texas Tech University and Christina Chan of the World Resources Institute will discuss the latest results of a survey assessing the priorities of U.S. voters. RSVP here. Thursday, Sept. 24, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

5. Climate Justice and Resilience: Farmers and Communities on the Front Lines: This roundtable discussion hosted by the Rainforest Alliance will seek to answer how governments and corporations can best support rural farmers and Indigenous communities on the front lines of the climate crisis. It will include a focus on “climate-smart agriculture” and how it can be expanded. Speakers will include International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change Co-chair Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Ghanaian cocoa farmer Elijah Owusu-Cashiedom and Unilever Chief Sustainability Officer Rebecca Marmot. Register here. Friday, Sept. 25, 9 – 10:30 a.m.