The Climate Group’s annual conference in New York drew thousands as leaders across governments, business and civil society called for faster renewable rollout, shared climate intelligence, and stronger support for vulnerable regions.
Climate Week NYC opened alongside UN General Assembly High-Level Week with thousands of attendees and more than 1,500 events across the city.
Speakers stressed that reliance on fossil fuels persists despite cleaner, cheaper alternatives and warned against misinformation and political silence.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband urged treating climate and nature loss as national security issues and recommended pooled data for forecasts and early warnings.
# What happened Climate Week NYC began with an opening ceremony and a full conference program at the Glass House on 12th Avenue. The week runs alongside the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week (21–29 September). Organizers and speakers described this edition as the biggest yet, with thousands attending and more than 1,500 events across New York City.
# Who spoke and what they said Helen Clarkson, founder and CEO of the Climate Group, opened the event by calling out continued dependence on fossil fuels among incumbents and criticizing misinformation spread by right-wing commentators in traditional and social media. She also accused some leaders and outlets of avoiding the word "climate," which she described as a form of erasure that amounts to inaction.
Ed Miliband, the United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary, argued climate and nature loss should be considered matters of national security. He said climate impacts cross borders and recommended governments pool information to improve forecasting and early warning systems so authorities can respond before crises hit.
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivered the keynote and framed the issue around shared responsibility. He referenced Australia's experience with intense bushfires and floods and highlighted support for Pacific island states, including the Pacific Resilience Facility, a Pacific-led climate financing mechanism established last year.
# Context and urgency Speakers tied current geopolitical tensions and energy supply disruptions to the broader climate challenge. Conflicts such as the war in Ukraine and instability in the Middle East have stressed global oil and gas supplies, reinforcing the argument for energy independence through clean power.
The conference also referenced recent climate indicators. In 2026, over 150 million hectares burned in the first four months of the year, and scientists confirmed a "super" El Niño that will likely push global temperatures and extreme weather to new levels. Those facts were used to underline why foreign ministers, prime ministers, energy and climate ministers must all treat climate breakdown as a core policy concern.
# What leaders want next Speakers pushed for accelerated deployment of existing clean-energy technologies, stronger government-business coordination, and financing that prioritizes vulnerable regions. Miliband specifically called for shared data to make early warnings and forecasts actionable. Albanese stressed practical support for Pacific resilience planning and long-term climate-friendly investments.
# Takeaway for readers
# Immediate items to watch
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