New York Climate Week 2023: Was It Worth It?
Our all-smiles OPF team from left to right: Jacob, Ash, Matthias, Jack, Julia, Neil, and Denise.
New York Climate Week is recognized globally as the largest climate-focused event, drawing in thousands of attendees all in pursuit of accelerating solutions, networking, and exploring the next steps in making our world a better place. Many members of the OnePointFive team are fortunate to call New York City home, having the opportunity to host and attend numerous events throughout the week.
The question is, was it worth it?
Just like our time at San Francisco Climate Week and Hollywood Climate Summit, we wanted to jot down all that we learned for you. Here are the experiences and takeaways from some of our team: Julia Akker (Associate Director) and Matthias Muehlbauer (Founding Partner).
Major Decarbonization Opportunities in Consumer Goods and Agriculture
A stunning view of NYC.
Julia noted several opportunities for decarbonization in agriculture and consumer goods and found several companies making significant strides. For instance, Stonyfield, Ben & Jerry's, and LUSH lead with their sustainable initiatives. Stonyfield's parent company, Lactalis, recognized the potential of integrating cargo loads from different brands into the same trucks or routes. This method reduces the number of vehicles on the road, optimizes existing resources, and decreases the carbon footprint of logistics operations. Moreover, companies like Stonyfield and LUSH are championing sustainable transport methods, such as rail transport. This approach not only diminishes their carbon emissions but sets a standard for others in the industry.
In terms of supply chain management, the establishment of a dedicated and protected insetting fund is gaining traction. Insetting reduces emissions within a company's own value chain, which makes it a sustainable long-term strategy. LUSH, Stonyfield, and Ben & Jerry's are noteworthy examples, as each has dedicated insetting or carbon funds incorporated into their cost of goods sold. This practice is endorsed by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), which further validates its significance and effectiveness.
Five Key Sustainability Shifts
Matthias observed 5 key sustainability transformations—or shifts—in the approach to climate work throughout New York Climate Week:
1. The Implementation Shift
Matthias speaks to the attendees at OnePointFive’s executive-level workshop at NY Climate Week.
One of the most fundamental shifts required in sustainability is moving focus from strategy to implementation. Implementation and action need to take precedence over dialogue—the Decision Decade—as the field calls it.
This shift to action requires teamwork. For instance, collaborative workshops—the kind that bring finance, policy, and solutions into the same room to share industry insights, shake hands on partnerships, and leave with more than a LinkedIn connection—creates more impact than a lone individual in an isolated corner of their expertise.
2. The Consumer Power Shift
A wall from OnePointFive’s climate mixer event venue, Impact Hub NY Metro.
Consumers have the power to influence companies to invest more in sustainability by choosing products that are better for the environment. A demand-driven approach further drives a company’s sustainability approach even after a change in leadership.
While consumers hold the power, companies hold the responsibility. Companies need to provide consumers with more sustainable choices. They have the ability to provide both decision architecture and consumer education to make informed choices in offering certified sustainable options.
3. The CSO Shift
As our climate shifts, our leadership does as well. The future of the CSO (Chief Sustainability Officer) role must become more dynamic, focusing on value creation, organizational transformation, employee empowerment, and project management. Interestingly, the role has become increasingly more integrated into all functions of the business—like a CEO.
4. The Optimism Shift
People taking to the streets of NYC in the March to End Fossil Fuels.
On the ground of New York Climate Week, one message seemed to cut through, and that was one of hope and optimism. During the March to End Fossil Fuels, 75,000 people took to the streets of New York and joined their voices to halt fossil fuels. The costs of solar and wind continue to decrease rapidly. Climate technology continues to improve and innovate. The UN just added Phase out of Fossil Fuels onto the agenda for COP28 in Dubai later this year.
And there’s more—a lot to look forward to in the realm of climate wins.
5. The Workforce Shift
Matthias (left) moderates a panel on the Future of Energy workforce. Other speakers from left to right: Sean Bradshaw (Pratt & Whitney), Brian Berzin (Thea Energy), Ida Hempel (Galvanize Climate Solutions), Amy Peterson (Department of Energy Loans Programs Office).
At a panel on the Future of Energy workforce, an audience member pointed out the steady decline of engineers entering the workforce in recent years, asking, “How are we going to rapidly deploy these climate solutions if we have no engineers?”
It’s not just an engineering talent gap; the gap exists for all sustainability talent. 68% of sustainability leaders are hired internally. Less than 43% of them have any sustainability experience. In sum, we’re relying on a fleet of ship captains with no sailing experience to get us to our destination.
There’s a few answers to address the gap. One such answer is the American Climate Corps, a Biden-Harris initiative to upskill 20,000 people on climate resiliency. Hand-in-hand with the implementation shift, the workforce—or rather, the people—stand at the center of the climate transition.
Our answer? Here at OnePointFive, we’re training and activating 100,000 sustainability professionals to bridge the gap.
OnePointFive Brings Sustainability Leaders Together
Announcing our 100k initiative to a standing-room only crowd at our climate mixer event.
We hosted two of the greatest events of the week as we announced our 100K For 2030 campaign.
For our first event, our on-staff climate experts facilitated an executive-level workshop, to unravel the latest net-zero trends and strategies. Our goal was to empower sustainability leaders to get unstuck and activated.
Next, we held a fun-filled mixer to unite climate leaders and solutionists within the city, including graduates of OnePointFive Academy (our six-week sustainability consulting accelerator), graduates of the Climatebase Fellowship that we proudly teach, and the broader climate community. Laughter filled the rooms of the Impact Hub as people snacked on sustainable plant-based foods from Farm to People, Eat the Change, PLNT Burger, and Le Botaniste, participated in networking exercises, and just had some fun.
New York Climate Week 2023 was more than just a series of work events—it presented a window into the tangible and actionable steps that we, as individuals and as part of larger companies, can take to accelerate our journey to a sustainable future.
