With the world on course to set a new record as the hottest year in recorded history, an assembly of world leaders, business magnates, celebrities, and environmental activists have congregated in midtown Manhattan for Climate Week and the United Nations' Climate Action Summit. This gathering once again places the world's focus on the escalating climate crisis.
The annual Climate Week coincides with the commencement of the United Nations General Assembly, uniting heads of state and senior government officials with leaders from the private sector. The central theme of this convergence is the pressing issue of climate change, a concern magnified by a year marred by an unprecedented number of billion-dollar disasters, including eight devastating floods.
The pinnacle of this event will transpire on Wednesday when United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres presides over his Climate Action Summit. This high-profile summit aims to counteract the regression observed in the goals outlined in the Paris Climate Agreement and to encourage governments worldwide to adopt substantial new measures in the battle against climate change.
Selwin Hart, the special adviser on climate to the secretary-general, expressed, “There is lingering doubt that … we can meet our climate goals. There is too much backtracking; so we're really hoping that this summit can be used as a moment to inspire people.”
As of Monday, the United Nations had not disclosed the list of world leaders or officials who would secure coveted speaking slots at the climate summit. Over 100 countries' officials have expressed their desire to address the assembly. However, Guterres' team has been meticulously reviewing the applications in the preceding days, with priority being granted to countries demonstrating tangible advancements in their prior climate commitments.
Hart clarified that the allocation of speaking slots is not designed to embarrass any particular leaders or countries but rather to highlight those that are taking substantive actions towards addressing climate change.
This gathering unfolds just 10 weeks ahead of the COP28 climate summit scheduled to be held in the United Arab Emirates. It stands as one of the final high-profile gatherings with the objective of motivating nations to propose new climate actions and strategies for transitioning away from fossil fuels. Prior attempts at the G7, G20, and BRICs meetings (comprising Brazil, China, South Africa, India, and Russia) to secure unanimous agreements on phasing out fossil fuels fell short of expectations.
The Alliance of Small Island States, consisting of nearly 40 members, will utilize Climate Week as a platform to urge developed nations' leaders to take more resolute steps toward ending fossil fuel usage and supporting the global expansion of renewable energy sources such as wind, geothermal, and solar power.
“It is disheartening to witness the lack of ambition on what truly ails us – emissions from fossil fuels,” the small islands alliance stated. “We implore the international community to use the platforms of the UNGA and New York Climate Week to signal unequivocal support for Small Island Developing States,” it urged, using the acronym for the United Nations General Assembly.
Climate Week has emerged as a focal point for climate activists keen on highlighting perceived government inaction and corporate greenwashing – a practice where companies promote environmentally friendly actions while continuing to contribute to pollution. Against the backdrop of polished events and high-level speeches, as many as 75,000 activists marched through midtown Manhattan on Sunday, demanding an end to fossil fuels. Furthermore, hundreds of protestors planned disruptive actions near Wall Street on Monday to call for an end to fossil fuel financing.
Romain Ioualalen, the global diplomacy manager at Oil Change International, a non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on phasing out fossil fuel production, stated, “We've had enough false promises, greenwashing, and half measures. Countries must deliver by coming to the Summit with clear plans to immediately end oil and gas expansion and policies for a fast and fair phase out of all fossil fuels.”
Simultaneously, across several hotel ballrooms and other venues throughout Manhattan, approximately 2,600 individuals have registered for in-person attendance at Climate Week events, featuring over 200 speakers representing the private sector, governments, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
