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Climate Week NYC Opening Ceremony

An introduction to our Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony launches Climate Week NYC each year and is attended by hundreds of world leading politicians, business executives and civil society representatives. They’ll share their global outlook on driving climate action and igniting progress through engaging interviews, discussions and major announcements. 

In 2023, the Opening Ceremony took place against the backdrop of the Earth’s hottest year on record. We showcased our short film, Facing The New Reality, addressing the urgency needed to avert the climate crisis.   

Speakers including UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion H.E. Razan Al Mubarak, Brazil’s Minister of Climate Change and Environment Marina Silva, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson took to the stage to showcase their optimism, determination, and unity in the fight for climate action. 

Climate Week NYC 2023’s theme of We Can. We Will., was a call to action for business and political leaders to show ‘loud proud’ climate leadership at the Opening Ceremony – thoughts echoed later in the week at the UN General Assembly. Discussions centered around three themes – vulnerability, accountability, and inspiration. Speakers noted the stark nature of climate change’s current and future impact, and highlighted the need for radical systems change across business and government, but also the need to stay resilient, hopeful, and optimistic in the face of this daunting crisis.  

For more insights from the Opening Ceremony, read the Climate Week NYC 2023 report. For more photos and videos from the event, watch on demand or check out our multimedia hub.

Opening Ceremony 2023
Gov. Bill Ritter; Alexandra Palt, L'Oréal; Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Freetown; speaking at the Opening Ceremony of Climate Week NYC 2023.
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