Explore Climate Forward NYC 2025’s key insights on climate action, business sustainability, and global cooperation during this pivotal moment for our planet.
Introduction: New York as the Climate Crossroads
On September 24, 2025, the New York Times Center served as the epicenter of climate discourse as world leaders, policymakers, business executives, and scientists converged for Climate Forward 2025. Under the theme “Breaking Points,” the event probed what lies ahead for our warming planet amid shifting geopolitics and policy reversals.
Coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly, Manhattan transformed into a global climate hub during Climate Week NYC, hosting nearly 1,000 events focused on environmental solutions. For sustainability-focused organisations like Cambio Consultancy, Climate Forward was a pivotal moment to grasp emerging trends in climate leadership, corporate responsibility, and systemic change.
The Climate Reality: A Tale of Two Narratives
Climate Forward unfolded against contrasting narratives. On one hand, during his UN address, President Trump denounced climate change as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.” Meanwhile, on the Climate Forward stage, impassioned advocates like California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the remark as “an abomination,” and reassured attendees that climate leadership persists even amid backlash.
This tension struck at the event’s core: navigating climate urgency in a world of political polarisation, extreme weather, and economic complexity. With 2024 confirmed as the hottest year on record — the first to breach 1.5 °C above pre‑industrial levels — the imperative for decisive action could not be more urgent.
Key Voices and Critical Conversations
Political Leadership & Policy Direction
- Chris Wright, U.S. Energy Secretary, vigorously defended the administration’s rollback of renewable initiatives, stating support for other nations following the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement and advocating for continued coal operations.
- At the other end of the spectrum, Governor Gavin Newsom reaffirmed California’s climate ambitions and criticized federal policy reversals.
- Former Vice President Al Gore injected a longer view: despite political setbacks, he urged a resilient and hopeful climate movement, offering strategic pathways forward.
These contrasting voices made vivid the tension between federal retrenchment and state‑level ambition.
Corporate Sustainability in the AI Era
One of the forum’s most provocative sessions addressed how artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure intersect with climate goals. Melanie Nakagawa (Microsoft) and Kate Brandt (Google) acknowledged that their companies’ expanding data centers pose emissions challenges. Yet both reaffirmed their commitment to net‑zero, citing investments in nuclear power, carbon capture, and renewable innovations as pathways to reconcile growth and sustainability.
This session underscored a central tension for 21st‑century business: how to scale technological progress without compromising climate integrity.
International Perspectives & Global Diplomacy
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese outlined Australia’s ambitious goal to cut emissions by 62–70% by 2035 and framed climate action as a critical measure of credibility in the Asia-Pacific context.
André Corrêa do Lago, president of COP30, diagnosed a looming battleground of “economic denial” in climate discourse and called for renewed U.S. engagement in global climate negotiations.
Their contributions underscored that while national politics may waver, international dynamics and peer pressure increasingly shape climate agendas.
Innovation & Solutions in Focus
Climate Forward didn’t dwell only on rhetoric — it spotlighted tangible technologies and scalable models:
- Bob Mumgaard (Commonwealth Fusion Systems) discussed progress in fusion energy, positing that limitless clean power may lie within reach.
- Manish Bapna (NRDC) and Bill McKibben (Third Act) explored new models of environmental advocacy, combining grassroots energy with institutional pressure.
- Sessions on sustainable finance, forest financing, circular economy models, and resilient infrastructure illustrated real-world pathways for scaling climate solutions.
These innovations offered a hopeful counterbalance to despair — demonstrating that climate strategy is now as much about execution as about ambition.
Breaking Points: The Business Case for Climate Action
Climate Forward’s central framing — breaking points — resonated across multiple business domains.
The Evolving ESG Landscape
With ESG investing under increased scrutiny in the U.S. and Europe, companies are pressed to move beyond greenwashing. The event emphasised the need for rigorous, transparent, data‑driven climate strategies — not just marketing claims.
Energy Transition Challenges
As demand from AI, cloud computing, and data centres surges, decarbonising becomes more complex. Panellists explored diversified solutions: nuclear energy, advanced carbon capture, and grid innovation to meet rising load without undermining emissions goals.
Supply Chain Resilience
Climate disruptions — from floods to droughts — threaten global supply chains. Leaders discussed adaptive strategies, scenario planning, and climate risk management as critical tools for business continuity.
Key Takeaways for Organisations
Think Beyond Short-Term Politics
Climate strategies must have staying power. Organizations that anchor climate action to long-term resilience and value creation will outlast volatility.
Embed Technology & Sustainability in Tandem
AI, data, and digital systems present both risk and opportunity. Successful firms will integrate climate thinking into tech planning, not bolt it on after.
Engage Stakeholders Authentically
Employees, investors, customers — all expect more than rhetoric. Real climate leadership is built on transparency, accountability, and measurable impact.
Collaboration is Non-Negotiable
The scale of climate challenges demands coalitions across sectors, geographies, and incentives. Building bridges unlocks leverage and velocity.
Looking Ahead: From Breaking Points to Breakthroughs
Climate Forward NYC 2025 made one thing clear: we are at a critical inflection point. The rhetoric is no longer enough — the future demands bold leadership, radical innovation, and a collaborative ethos.
As Helen Clarkson, CEO of Climate Group, succinctly observed:
“When you create an environment that brings together companies, activists, philanthropists, and investors, that’s when ambitious targets start to translate into real‑world changes.”
For Cambio Consultancy, the insights gained deepen our resolve to help organizations transform climate challenges into regenerative growth opportunities. The real question now isn’t if to act — it’s how fast we can shift our operations, culture, and strategy toward true climate leadership.
Climate Forward 2025 didn’t just show what’s possible — it laid out what’s necessary. The time to act is now.
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References
- NYTCo Press Release – “The New York Times to Host The Climate Forward Live Event on Sept. 24, 2025”
https://www.nytco.com/press/the-new-york-times-to-host-the-climate-forward-live-event-on-sept-24-2025/ - Climate Forward – The New York Times Events
https://www.nytimes.com/events/climateforward - NYTCo Press Release – “Climate Forward Brings Together Diverse Voices on Climate Change”
https://www.nytco.com/press/climate-forward-brings-together-diverse-voices-on-climate-change/ - NYT – “What World Leaders Told Us About Trump, China and…”
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/climate/climate-forward-event-recap.html - NYT – “Chris Wright on Politics, Power and Energy Under Trump”
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/climate/climate-forward-chris-wright.html - NYT Live Blog – “Climate Forward: Newsom Assails Trump’s Retreat From…”
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/09/24/climate/climate-forward-conference - NYT – “Al Gore on Trump and the Future of Climate Action”
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/climate/al-gore-interview-climate-forward.html - NYT – “Climate and the A.I. Revolution”
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/climate/climateforward-ai-revolution.html - NYT – “Can Fusion Deliver the Dream of Limitless Energy?”
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/climate/climate-forward-bob-mumgaard.html - Forbes – “Climate Week NYC 2025 Delivers On Forest Finance”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/annabroughel/2025/10/01/climate-week-nyc-2025-delivers-on-forest-finance/ - ERM – “Climate Week NYC 2025: An evolving sustainability agenda”
https://www.erm.com/insights/climate-week-nyc-2025-an-evolving-sustainability-agenda/ - Aspectus Group – “New York Climate Week 2025: the need-to-knows”
https://www.aspectusgroup.com/insights/new-york-climate-week-2025-the-need-to-knows/ - Yale Environment – “YSE Experts to Share Pathways to Progress at Climate Week NYC”
https://environment.yale.edu/news/article/pathways-progress-climate-week-nyc-2025 - Forbes – “6 Takeaways From NY Climate Week’s Tale Of Two Cities”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanmichelson2/2025/09/28/6-takeaways-from-ny-climate-weeks-tale-of-two-cities/ - NYT – “Watch the 2025 Climate Forward Conference: A Video…”
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/24/climate/heres-a-look-at-the-speakers-at-the-2025-climate-forward-conference.html