Turning optimism into action: Key takeaways from Climate Week NYC

Each year, Climate Week NYC serves as a powerful reminder of the momentum behind global climate action. From business leaders to civil society, the event brings together stakeholders who are committed to driving the transition toward a net-zero future. Hosted by Climate Group in partnership with the United Nations General Assembly, this year’s Climate Week NYC featured over 600 events across the city, offering a platform for ambitious discussions and collaborative solutions.

For Carbon Direct, Climate Week NYC 2024 wasn’t just about attending the sessions—it was about taking the lead in shaping the future of climate action. By bringing together key climate leaders at our panel event, The Buyer-Supplier Partnership: Accelerating High-Quality Carbon Dioxide Removal, we contributed to the growing dialogue around scaling critical carbon removal pathways. 

Shifting from conversation to collaboration 

Our panel discussion, co-hosted with Weyerhaeuser at City Winery, explored a pivotal theme: how can buyers and suppliers collaborate to accelerate high-quality carbon removal at scale? With a focus on both residual and historical emissions, the panel featured diverse perspectives from stakeholders across the carbon removal value chain.

Some of the key takeaways from the event included:

• Improving collaboration: Scaling carbon removal requires strong partnerships between buyers and suppliers, ensuring that every part of the value chain is aligned to accelerate action.

• Tailoring contracts: The panel discussed technical milestones, delivery protections, and long-term offtake structures as crucial factors in expanding high-quality carbon removal.

• Maximizing impact: Structuring investments to deliver not just climate benefits but broader environmental and business value is essential to scaling the right solutions.

The energy in the room made it clear: the future of climate action hinges on these partnerships. By coming together, buyers and suppliers are not just advancing the technologies that will drive climate solutions—they’re building the foundation for a net-zero economy.

Optimism alone is not enough: Action must follow

The conversations at New York Climate Week were filled with optimism, but our experts were clear—optimism alone is not enough. Action and investment must follow, and it must happen now.

Julio Friedmann, Chief Scientist at Carbon Direct, reflected on this year’s Climate Week as a step in the right direction:

“This year's NY Climate Week featured less happy talk and more commitments to tackling real climate challenges seriously. It was great to see superstars of finance, policy, innovation, and civil society moving into a mode of collaborative work. Now - multiply that by 20 and we're getting somewhere.”

This year marked a shift from abstract discussions to concrete collaboration. Stakeholders across industries are moving beyond acknowledging the problem to implementing tangible climate solutions. The focus now is on scaling action at a rate that meets the scale of the climate challenge.

Maria Travaille, Director, North America Advisory Business at Carbon Direct, offered insight into a key shift in the carbon removal space:

"The conversation around carbon removal has shifted from 'why' to 'how'. A few years ago, a lot of events were centered around why it is important to incorporate high-quality carbon removal into climate strategies to reach our global climate goals. This year, events and sessions were focused on how to do so—how project developers, buyers, policymakers, and financiers can work together to scale high-quality carbon removal. This is an exciting, and important, shift."

This shift from why carbon removal is needed to how we can achieve it signals readiness for practical, impactful solutions. Cross-sector collaboration is an important part of this shift, highlighting a meaningful need for partnerships in carbon removal projects. 

Cindy Yiu, Director of Product & Solutions Marketing at Carbon Direct, captured the essence of this moment:

“This year’s New York Climate Week underscored that the net-zero transition is fundamentally reshaping what it takes to be a climate leader. True climate leaders act decisively and urgently on all fronts – from deep decarbonization within their value chain to playing a role in shaping the nascent carbon removal market.”

This new era of climate leadership isn’t about working in silos. It’s about bringing stakeholders together to drive exponential progress. The leaders who will shape our net-zero future are those who engage their entire value chain and communities—acting not just for the good of their companies but for the good of the planet.

Matthew Potts, Chief Science Officer at Carbon Direct, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the urgency of scaling action:

“New York Climate Week this year showcased the growing number of highly motivated players in carbon management, particularly those looking to engage on the complexities of decarbonization. However, a worrisome gap remains between these action-oriented actors and those who remain on the sidelines. I hope these more tentative organizations quickly move from talk to action, a climate imperative if we are to meet our shared climate goals.”

While progress is being made, there’s still a long way to go. Those organizations that are slow to act must step up now, because the window to make meaningful change is closing rapidly.

Key takeaways: Turning momentum into action

The optimism at Climate Week NYC was palpable, and this year’s events reinforced the need for collaboration, investment, and commitment to scaling the solutions that can make a meaningful impact.

1. Implementing existing solutions: There is no shortage of ideas in the climate space, but what sets this year apart is the tangible commitment to implementing those solutions. Carbon removal, supply chain decarbonization, and portfolio procurement strategies are no longer theoretical; they are happening now.

2. Increasing collaboration: Across the board, the success of carbon removal pathways and broader climate action depends on collaboration. Buyers, suppliers, policymakers, and financiers must work together to align on long-term strategies and shared goals.

3. Taking bold action: While progress is being made, there is still a significant gap between those taking action and those standing on the sidelines. Closing this gap is not just an opportunity, it’s a climate imperative.

4. Evolving climate leadership: The definition of climate leadership is expanding. True leaders are those who bring their stakeholders and communities along, creating systemic change and driving exponential progress toward a net-zero future.

The path forward: Bold action for a net-zero future

As we reflect on the outcomes of Climate Week NYC 2024, it’s clear that the future of climate action is bright, but only if we continue to turn optimism into action. The path forward requires all of us—buyers, suppliers, policymakers, and business leaders—to collaborate and invest in the solutions that will drive exponential progress. 

At Carbon Direct, we remain committed to leading this charge, helping companies develop and execute a climate roadmap including science-backed emissions measurement, target setting, high-quality carbon removal, and decarbonization strategies. 

Discover how we help our customers take meaningful climate action. →