“Power On” - shining a light on Climate Week NYC

Later this month, Climate Week NYC 2025 will invite the world to “Power On” and attending corporates and countries will be keen to prove they’re “plugged in”. Framed by this slogan, the week calls for accelerated action, deeper collaboration, and tangible delivery. For corporates, the spotlight is on them to move beyond ambition and onto execution, demonstrating not just what they stand for, but what they’re doing. What’s telling is that the climate conversation has matured, and the expectation now is that, to be judged, you must be showing impact, not just intent. 

This year’s programme reflects that shift. From energy transition and nature-based solutions to sustainable food systems and climate finance, the themes are broad but interconnected. It is clear that climate action is no longer the remit of sustainability teams alone, with expected attendees this year demonstrating that it’s now a pan-boardroom issue, a reputational imperative and increasingly, as regulation begins to come in, a licence to operate. It’s a continuation of the momentum seen during London Climate Action Week back in June, where the focus was on practical, scalable solutions. 

Already world’s largest climate-focused gathering of its kind, Climate Week NYC will deliver over 900 events, drawing tens of thousands of attendees and pushing corporate engagement to an all-time high. The Nest Climate Campus, one of the week’s flagship venues, has expanded significantly, reflecting the growing appetite among businesses to use Climate Week as a strategic platform for announcements, as well as showcasing partnerships. Many are seeing the week as a stepping stone to COP30 in Brazil later this year, where climate and nature agendas will converge, and to Davos 2026, where the narratives seeded at London and New York climate weeks will be elevated to the global economic stage. 

Yet this momentum is unfolding against a backdrop of political divergence. In the US, Donald Trump’s second term has brought about a sharp rollback on ESG, with his withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, DEI initiatives being scaled back, and investors increasingly abandoning ESG frameworks. The country is becoming a two-speed climate economy, where states like California and New York push forward, while others retreat.  

In Europe, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has declared that “the West as we knew it no longer exists”, reflecting a broader realignment of global alliances and priorities. Meanwhile, in the UK, opposition politicians argue that net zero is too costly and doomed to fail, with the recent ministerial reshuffle suggesting a greater emphasis on growth rather than green. Everywhere, business leaders are increasingly measured in their language, calling for regulatory reform and greater efficiency.  

This retrenchment is visible in corporate behaviour. Walmart has dropped its racial equity training and scaled back its sustainability goals. McDonald’s has retired diversity targets for senior leadership. Unilever’s CEO has described corporate purpose as a distraction from performance. Even BlackRock, long seen as a climate-conscious investor, has toned down its ESG messaging, though it insists this won’t change how portfolios are managed. The tone has shifted as climate now must equal competitiveness, not just conscience.  

This trend is reflected in the public, too, with polling published this week in The Times and conducted by YouGov showing a sharp rise in climate scepticism in the UK. The number of Brits who believe the dangers of global warming are exaggerated has jumped 50% since 2021. Support for key net zero policies has dropped below one-third and confidence in the UK government’s ability to meet its targets has halved. Only 25% of voters now believe green policies will drive economic growth. 

Still, there is a more hopeful undercurrent. Recent research from Climate Outreach and More in Common shows that 74% of Brits still believe climate change is important. UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently argued the US’s backtracking will mean missing the century’s greatest economic opportunity. COP30’s Ana Toni echoed this at London Climate Action Week, stating that “we cannot think of climate and prosperity separately”. The World Bank has expanded its definition of climate-friendly lending to include job creation and growth and Bloomberg Intelligence recently reported that 85% of investors expect ESG assets under management to grow over the next two years. Climate action, at least amongst most groups, remains a commercial imperative. 

As Climate Week NYC unfolds, I’ll be on the ground working with clients as they navigate this complex landscape. This year, the tone feels more observant than outspoken. Over the past month, compared to previous years, I’ve pitched fewer press releases but focused more on convening roundtables, reflecting a quieter, strategic approach. The challenge for corporates is to bridge the gap between ambition and acceptance. And that means making sure the communications out from the week are real, relatable and rooted in impact.