October 13, 2022

Climate Week: Now what?

by Jamie Beck Alexander

20220922_NEST_435.jpg

Climate Week NYC Nest panel
Nest Summit Campus

Between keynote talks, sold-out panel discussions and early looks at some new content, Project Drawdown was proud to bring climate solutions to the main stage at Climate Week NYC last month. But now that the festivities are over … what’s next?

One of the obvious criticisms of Climate Week and other climate conferences is that they encourage thousands of people—ourselves included—to descend upon remote destinations, with all the planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions that go along with it. Look, nothing compares to experiencing the palpable energy in a room during a vibrant discussion, or the deep trust and alliances that can be built between people and movements when they happen across a table instead of behind a screen. But we need to make sure that all those big climate announcements and pats on the back lead to tangible climate action, or we’re exacerbating the problem we’re working to solve.

At Drawdown Labs, we advocate for stronger accountability from our private sector partners, urging the businesses we work with to set measurable targets and be transparent about how they’re measuring up against their climate promises. So in that spirit, we’re sharing some of what we launched during Climate Week—and some ways you can hold us accountable to them.

  • Align climate funding with a Drawdown Roadmap: At the Nest Summit, Project Drawdown executive director Jonathan Foley presented new, cutting-edge work to align funding decisions made by philanthropists and investors with Earth’s “carbon portfolio.” By leveraging the best science, we can better identify when, how, and where to direct capital to fund strategic climate solutions.  

Hold us accountable: In the coming months, look for the launch of our new network of philanthropists and investors who will work with us to better align catalytic capital with strategic climate solutions—making funding decisions that are guided by science and rooted in our planetary carbon portfolio.

  • Normalize drawdown-aligned business climate leadership. In a lively panel discussion, six climate advocates came together to illustrate how businesses can go beyond “net zero” to helping the world achieve drawdown quickly and safely, and with equity and justice at the heart of the transition. 

Hold us accountable: By early 2023, we will make specific metrics for each aspect of the Drawdown Aligned Business Framework publicly available. By the end of 2023, we aim to align each of our formal Drawdown Labs business partners with this framework.

  • Equip employees to take tangible climate action at work. At the Marketplace of the Future, we soft-launched our Job Function Action Guides, equipping employees in seven common corporate job functions to accelerate and expand their company’s climate action far beyond the sustainability team.  

Hold us accountable: By the end of 2022, we aim to get our climate action checklists into the hands of at least 1,000 corporate employees and begin tracking their impacts. In early 2023, we’ll release action guides for at least three new job functions.

  • Galvanize new forms of climate leadership in new sectors. Project Drawdown hosted a panel discussion with the lead vocalist of the Lumineers, a retired NHL hockey player, and others in the live events space to explore how cultural icons and institutions can move climate leadership faster and reach new audiences.

Hold us accountable: By the middle of next year, Project Drawdown and our partners will publish a crosswalk of the Drawdown Aligned Business framework and the live events space, identifying key leverage points in live events that can help the world achieve drawdown.

Did your company or institution make a climate pledge/promise/commitment during Climate Week? If so, make it count. And think about how your role might contribute to helping them get there and helping the broader world achieve drawdown, quickly, safely, and equitably.

More Insights

News  |  November 16, 2023
Charred wood pellets
New report: Reducing black carbon
Key Report Takeaways:  Black carbon is a powerful climate pollutant which stems from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass Black carbon has unparalleled impacts on human well-being, the environment, and climate change   Black carbon has a short-term warming potential up to 1,500 times greater than carbon dioxide and is responsible for millions of premature deaths annually worldwide Black carbon emissions are highest in low- and middle-income countries with half of all emissions coming from just five countries Around 48% of all black carbon emissions are attributable to the residential sector, particularly from the use of dirty cooking fuels Targeted solutions across the residential, transportation, and industrial sectors in high-emitting regions would dramatically reduce black carbon emissions while preventing millions of premature deaths and saving trillions of dollars per year  In a report published today, scientists from Project Drawdown, the world’s leading resource for climate solutions, provide the most comprehensive look yet at how addressing black carbon – more commonly known as soot – would reduce global warming while preventing millions of premature deaths and saving trillions of dollars annually worldwide.  Black carbon, which largely results from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and organic matter used for cooking, transportation, industrial production, and more, is a major pollutant and greenhouse gas with a short-term warming potential up to 1,500 times greater than carbon dioxide.  Worldwide, black carbon is responsible for millions of premature deaths annually, increasing the risk of cardiovascular, respiratory, and other diseases. This results in the loss of trillions of US dollars globally in economic productivity each year. These impacts are felt most acutely in low- and middle-income countries, which still rely heavily on unclean fuels, such as wood, for heating, cooking, and energy production.  In the groundbreaking report, Project Drawdown researchers highlight global hotspots and sources of black carbon across geographies providing policymakers and funders with the best insight yet into what solutions, deployed where, will result in the greatest emissions reductions.
Read more
News  |  November 15, 2023
A graphic for Drawdown's Neighborhood: Tri-State featuring skylines of New York City, Newark, and New Haven
Drawdown’s Neighborhood video series takes on the Tri-State area
by Drawdown Stories
Drawdown’s Neighborhood, presented by Project Drawdown, is a series of short documentaries featuring the stories of climate solutions heroes, city by city across America. For its fifth edition, the series heads to the northeast in Drawdown’s Neighborhood: Tri-State – now available online! Spanning New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, the Tri-State area is one of the largest and most populous metropolitan areas in the world. As such, it both strongly impacts and is heavily impacted by climate change. From record-breaking heat waves to supercharged hurricanes, the Tri-State is all too familiar with the increasing threats wrought by climate change as well as the inequities exacerbated by such disasters.  Fortunately, the region is also brimming with bold creators, innovative leaders, and energized environmentalists working at the forefront of climate solutions to help their home – and the world – become a greener, healthier, and more equitable place. Drawdown’s Neighborhood: Tri-State passes the mic to eleven of these climate heroes whose voices too often go unheard.  Voices of the Tri-State Join Drawdown’s Neighborhood host and Project Drawdown Director of Storytelling and Engagement, Matt Scott, as he introduces us to: Amanda Appelson, Plantega (Bronx, NY) Hailey Miranda, We Stay / Nos Quedamos (Bronx, NY) Jennifer Seda, Bronx River Alliance (Bronx, NY) Anthony Diaz, Newark Water Coalition (Newark, NJ) Bilal Walker, Al-Munir LLC (Newark, NJ) Christian Rodriguez, Ironbound Community Corporation (Newark, NJ) Nathaly Agosto Filión, Newark Green Team (Newark, NJ) Alex Rodriguez, Save the Sound (New Haven, CT) Doreen Abubakar, Community Place-Making Engagement Network (New Haven, CT) Schandra Madha, New Haven Ecology Project / Common Ground (New Haven, CT) Xóchitl Garcia, Environmental Justice Community Organizer (New Haven, CT) Share These Stories Help us amplify the work of these Tri-State climate heroes by sharing their stories with others in your network and across social media. Please feel free to copy and paste the posts below: Sample post 1: Let’s hear it for climate heroes! Check out #DrawdownsNeighborhood: #TriState, presented by @ProjectDrawdown — a short doc series that tells the stories of 11 changemakers bringing climate solutions to their communities. www.drawdown.org/neighborhood Sample post 2: Join @ProjectDrawdown on a journey to #PassTheMic to climate heroes whose stories too often go unheard. We’re taking you to the #TriState area to show you how 11 local changemakers are creating a healthier, more livable future for all. www.drawdown.org/neighborhood Sample post 3: Need inspiration for #climateaction in your own community? #DrawdownsNeighborhood: #TriState features 11 stories from unsung heroes who are using climate solutions to usher in a better, greener future. www.drawdown.org/neighborhood Additional, shareable assets include: Drawdown’s Neighborhood landing page Drawdown’s Neighborhood: Tri-State trailer Drawdown’s Neighborhood: Tri-State promotional graphic (also below) 
Read more
Video  |  November 1, 2023
Triple Win: climate change, poverty, and biodiversity
Halting climate change, alleviating poverty, and stemming the loss of biodiversity are some of the most critical challenges humanity faces today. With finite resources to invest in addressing them, how do we decide where to focus our efforts? Good news: We don’t have to pick one or another! Project Drawdown has identified a set of specific technologies and practices that address multiple challenges simultaneously and synergistically, creating an exciting opportunity for funders and development agencies to dramatically amplify impact while working to address the world’s most pressing needs. In this latest Drawdown Ignite webinar, climate-poverty solutions scientist Yusuf Jameel and policy advisor Dan Jasper introduce these “triple-win” solutions and explore how strategic deployment in low- and middle-income countries can bring new hope for a better world within our lifetimes. Top Takeaways Solutions to three massive threats humanity faces today – climate change, poverty, and biodiversity loss – overlap, and numerous actions can address all three at the same time. Efforts to alleviate poverty can increase or decrease demand for fossil fuels. As development proceeds, it’s critical to avoid “carbon lock-in” by favoring renewable over carbon dioxide–producing technologies. Climate change and biodiversity loss are intricately intertwined. Climate change exacerbates biodiversity loss, and biodiversity loss exacerbates climate change. Thus, efforts to alleviate both simultaneously can have synergistic effects. For greatest impacts, funding and action should focus on solutions that address multiple challenges at the same time. For example, shifting agricultural practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can also enhance food supply, improve gender equality, and protect habitat. The ability to do so is unfortunately limited by inadequate funding, inappropriate use of available funding, and inequitable distribution of available funding. Solutions include increasing funding for projects that address multiple challenges simultaneously, living up to funding pledges, increasing accountability to ensure funds are appropriately distributed, basing funding decisions on sound science, pursuing the greatest good rather than the greatest profit, and canceling debts owed by low and middle-income countries.  Anyone can help by sharing this message with policymakers and joining advocacy organizations that recognize the importance of and promote intersectional action. Useful Resources Climate–Poverty Connections: Opportunities for Synergistic Solutions at the Intersection of Planetary and Human Well-Being Desperate for hope? Linking human well-being and climate solutions is a way forward The win-wins of climate and biodiversity solutions Reflections from Bonn: Climate negotiations must face reality and rebuild credibility A rescue plan for people and the planet New IPCC report highlights urgent need to advance climate solutions and development simultaneously Key takeaways from Drawdown Lift’s Climate–Poverty Connections webinar series This webinar is part of Project Drawdown’s monthly Drawdown Ignite webinar series. Drawdown Ignite provides information and inspiration to guide your climate solutions journey. View past Drawdown Ignite webinars on YouTube, and visit our Events page for updates on future webinars.
Read more