Climate Week NYC – World Leaders and Citizens Gather to Tackle Climate Change

From September 21 to 28, New York City will be the heart of the fight against climate change. Beginning with the “People’s Climate March,” Climate Week NYC will feature around 100 events, activities, and meetings focused on driving climate action. The events are centered on the United Nations (U.N.) Climate Summit 2014, where representatives from across the globe will meet to discuss means of reducing emissions, strengthening climate resilience, and potentially forming political and legal agreements. Although the U.N. summit is one-day only, events other organizations have planned for the week will make the busiest city in North America a whole lot busier.

The U.N. Climate Summit, taking place at U.N. headquarters on September 23 and hosted by Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, will feature world leaders, business executives, and activists, coming together to discuss the global issue of tackling climate change. The 120 attendees expected range from President Barack Obama to the petroleum minister of Saudi Arabia. Although not an official U.N. treaty negotiation, the international body has invited leaders to present “significant and substantial initiatives to help move the world toward a path that will limit global warming.” Although the leaders of China and India, developing markets with high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, have declined invitations to attend (they are sending lower-ranking officials), Peruvian Environment Minister Manuel Pulgar-Vidal expressed optimism in the summit’s potential, stating, “We should recognize that the summit is a non-formal room to bring political will to the climate debate, so we should take that as an opportunity to hear the decision-makers, to hear how much they are going to do.” Selwin Hart, director of the U.N. climate team, said this summit in New York marks a “major turning point” for negotiations, building momentum leading up to the U.N. climate change conference taking place in Paris at the end of 2015.

The People’s Climate March will take place two days before the Climate Summit, on September 21. All peaceful demonstrators are welcome to join, and the organizers are projecting over 100,000 participants. Such a turnout would make it the biggest climate action event in history. Those marching include businesses, unions, faith groups, schools, social justice groups, and environmental groups, with many supporters drawn from communities hit hardest by the effects of climate change. The Sunday march will begin at the south end of Central Park and continues along 30-50 blocks in Manhattan, following months of negotiations with the NYPD. The marchers are demanding “a world with an economy that works for people and the planet; a world safe from the ravages of climate change; a world with good jobs, clean air and water, and healthy communities.” Ultimately, the People’s Climate March is looking to show how strongly citizens and communities feel about climate and environmental issues, and prove climate change has entered the mainstream.

Throughout Climate Week, marchers, New Yorkers, and tourists will have the opportunity to attend around 80 meetings, lectures, conferences, and debates, all focused on climate change. Concerts and screenings will also be taking place, creating a fun atmosphere around a topic that is normally taken very seriously. Topics to be discussed include climate change’s effects on indigenous peoples, oceans, public health, agriculture, and forests. The Religions for the Earth Conference will bring together 200 religious and spiritual leaders to discuss climate change from a spiritual perspective. Some events, like the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting, are by invitation only, but even without a Clinton connection, one can find plenty to do and learn.

Of course, not everyone who wants to go to New York can make it. The Climate Summit will be available for streaming online, and climate marches will also be happening in London, Paris, Melbourne, Berlin, and New Delhi. These cities, and other communities worldwide, are united in their feeling of urgency for addressing climate change and protecting the planet. Grassroots movements like the People’s Climate March have often been powerful tools to influence policymakers. Taking place days before the U.N. Summit, there is no doubt that decision-makers will feel the presence of the marchers.

As the world looks on, from September 21-28, the Big Apple will be a green one.

 

Author: Carlos Villacis

 

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