7 Key Takeaways from Climate Week NYC: A Call to Action for the Climate Industrial Revolution

Last week, I had the privilege of representing Phantm at Climate Week in New York, where we sponsored the WILD EARTH OCEANIA screening of "Future Council" at the United Nations General Assembly.

Directed by the incredible Damon Gameau, this Regenerators film gives voice to a group of inspiring young leaders who are driving the conversation around our future.

There will be much more to share from the "Future Council" kids and the film in the coming months, but for now, I wanted to share some reflections from my week in NYC.

Climate Week was a whirlwind of keynotes, networking events, and deep conversations about the sustainability challenges we all face.

It was energising, overwhelming, and above all, a call to action.

Here are my seven key takeaways from the experience:

1. The challenge‍

The first Industrial Revolution took 200 years. Now we have just 26 years to deliver the Climate Industrial Revolution. The scale of transformation we need is unprecedented.‍

2. Data-based storytelling is essential‍

Accurate data is essential for good climate storytelling. Without a solid foundation of data, we can’t build the narratives that drive action.

3. Insatiable AI‍

Artificial intelligence is incredibly data-hungry. We don’t have enough scientists in the world to meet AI's demands for high-quality data, and we don’t have enough renewable energy to power its data centers. This is a challenge we must address.

4. Regulation = transparency‍

The rapid increase in climate regulations across multiple markets has created confusion for sustainability leaders. But good climate regulation ultimately leads to better transparency and better outcomes.

5. Technology focus‍

When building climate technology, focus on solving problems that benefit nature. And when it’s time to talk about what you’ve built, don’t lead with the climate benefits—lead with how it saves your customers money. It’s practical solutions that drive adoption.

6. Advice for companies

1. The CFO must be a champion of sustainability objectives. Without financial leadership, sustainability is unlikely to succeed.
2. Don’t think of it as a "Nature Strategy"—make nature a part of your Business Growth Strategy.
3. Every business must adapt to the changing world—standing still is not an option.

7. Stat of the week‍

Wild mammals now make up just 4% of the total mammal biomass. The other 96% is split between livestock (62%) and humans (32%). This is a staggering indicator of how much we’ve reshaped the natural world.

Reflections

There’s no doubt that the task and challenges ahead are daunting, but this also offers up some incredibly exciting opportunities.

Climate Week in New York reminded me of the importance of collaboration, innovation, and storytelling in building the future we all want to see.

We’ll continue to share more here about our work and partnerships, and how they’re contributing to these global efforts.

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