Reflecting on Climate Week NYC 2026: Building Partnerships, Advancing Solutions
“The New York Climate Exchange invites the world to come and collaborate in solving the greatest challenge that humanity has ever faced: climate change.”
On the busiest day of Climate Week NYC — between discussions on what’s left of the Paris Agreement and climate data accessibility — M. Sanjayan reflected on the vision for The Exchange year-round and into the future.
This marathon of a week marked Sanjayan's first Climate Week as CEO of The Exchange. Unsurprisingly, it was our most ambitious yet.
Together with a record 42 partners, The Exchange convened 19 events across Governors Island and New York City, engaging more than 1,400 participants through workshops, discussions, site visits, and networking opportunities focused on advancing climate solutions. Throughout the week, leaders from government, academia, philanthropy, industry, and community organizations came together to explore the ideas, investments, and partnerships needed to accelerate climate action.
From Governors Island to Solar One, Columbia University to Australia House, and Simons Foundation to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, participants gathered to share practical lessons, examine emerging challenges, and build the relationships necessary to move climate solutions from concept to implementation.
Alongside our programming, Director of Program Innovation & Acceleration Shaina Horowitz joined the Everybody in the Pool podcast to discuss how The Exchange is building a climate innovation ecosystem on Governors Island, supporting climate tech entrepreneurs, and climate advancing solutions. The Exchange was also featured in SBU News, highlighting our partnership with Stony Brook University and the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science across Climate Week programming.
Governors Island as a Hub for Collaborative Policymaking
Governors Island served as the backdrop for many of the week's most important conversations while also offering a glimpse of the future home of The Exchange's climate campus.
Climate Week also marked the launch of the Exchange's newest initiative: the Climate Leaders Exchange.
Over two days, representatives from 12 U.S. cities gathered for Building Forward: Cities Advancing Energy Efficient Homes, a program focused on strategies for improving residential energy efficiency and accelerating climate action through housing and finance solutions.
Participants took part in workshops on Governors Island and toured the Brooklyn Navy Yard, including its climate innovation labs and NYCHA's Apartment of the Future, creating opportunities to see emerging solutions firsthand and exchange lessons that can be adapted in communities across the country.
The inaugural Governors' Dialogue on Governors Island, co-hosted with Climate Group’s Under2 Coalition, brought state and regional leaders from across the United States and around the world together on Governors Island. Representatives from California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Brazil, Canada, and South Africa, alongside New York’s DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton shared examples of climate progress and innovation while committing to continue collaboration through the year. We’re excited for the dialogue to return as an annual event on Governors Island.
The Exchange co-hosted Creative Solutions to Advance New York's Resilience Priorities with Waterfront Alliance and HNTB. The event brought together government agencies, community organizations, researchers, and industry leaders to develop real recommendations for strengthening climate resilience across New York City and the region. The event drew participants from nearly a dozen city and state agencies focused on environmental protection, emergency management, transportation, buildings, climate policy, and environmental justice.
Using Climate Data to Power Solutions
Data emerged as a central theme throughout the week.
During sessions across the city, experts explored how stronger environmental monitoring systems and more accessible data can help communities better understand risk and prepare for emergencies.
At Civic Hall, The Exchange convened AGU, Climate Central, the Open Environmental Data Project, and Public Environmental Data Partners to discuss the implications of environmental data going dark and the need for a more resilient data ecosystem. On Governors Island, The Exchange partnered with Stony Brook University's School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences and experts from Finland for a workshop and tour of the Governors Island Environmental Observatory.
Financing Large-Scale Transition
Meanwhile, climate finance, governance, and international collaboration remained front and center. At Australia House, The Exchange partnered with Fortescue, Minderoo Foundation, and Duke University to host Financing Large-Scale Transition, bringing together investors, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore how to mobilize the trillions of dollars needed to transform energy systems, infrastructure, and industry.
The conversation continued with the Oxford Climate Alumni Network, the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association, and The Exchange, examining how climate capital can balance near-term impact, emerging technologies, and the infrastructure needed to support long-term innovation. Together, these discussions highlighted both the scale of investment required and the importance of directing capital where it can deliver the greatest climate impact.
Supporting the Next Generation of Climate Innovators
Last but not least, we welcomed a new cohort of ClimateTech Fellows, hosted with NYSERDA at Solar One's new education center along the East River. The fellowship spotlights entrepreneurs and innovators tackling climate challenges on the ground every day, giving them a stage to share their work, build partnerships, and attract the attention and investment needed to scale their solutions.
Working at the intersection of clean energy, urban resilience, and climate technology, these founders represent the next generation of climate leadership. For many attendees, the event provided an inspiring introduction to Climate Week, grounding conversations about climate action in tangible solutions already being developed and deployed.
Looking Ahead
Thank you to our partners, speakers, and participants for making this extraordinary week possible. The connections made, collaborations sparked, and ideas shared during this supercharged week will shape our work in the months ahead as The Exchange advances research, innovation, and climate solutions from Governors Island to communities around the world.
We hope you’ll join us on Governors Island for Homecoming for the Harbor. This public pep rally and parade, on October 17, will bring the energy of sports championships and passion of protests to the waterways that sustain New York City and cities around the world!