What The Big Apple’s Climate Week Looked Like on Social Media
Just weeks ahead of the US election, Climate Week NYC brought government and business leaders to the Big Apple to talk about how to accelerate the low carbon transition.
During a range of events, receptions and discussions from 19 until 25 September, participants from around the world focused on how investment in innovation, technology and clean energy can drive profitability, and lead the world toward net-zero emissions.
This year’s New York climate week, which has become a staple amongst the international green innovation scene, took place during the UN’s first general assembly meeting since the Paris Agreement was adopted in December 2015.
We’ve selected a few social posts to give you a taste of what it was like!
The Empire State building was lit up in green to give a whole “new meaning to ‘green buildings’,” diplomat Juan-Pablo Valdes tweeted.
Pretty cool stuff. Empire State Bldg lit up in green last night to mark #Climate Week in #NYC. Gives new meaning to 'green building'! #CWNYC pic.twitter.com/UO6HSH4lFp
— Juan-Pablo Valdes 🇨🇦 (@PablovaldesJuan) September 20, 2016
Lots of innovations were on display in New York, including this electric race car, captured in a tweet by the city’s development agency NYCEDC.
Growing sustainable technology is core to NYC's innovation economy & to Mayor @BilldeBlasio's #OneNYC plan. #ClimateWeek #CWNYC #NYCePRIX pic.twitter.com/zDSPEUZBYD
— NYCEDC (@NYCEDC) September 21, 2016
The EU signalled it may fast-track its Paris Agreement ratification process. EU climate chief Miguel Arias Cañete told the UN general assembly in New York: “It is very simple, the European Union must join the Paris Agreement this year.”
"We will get it done," says EU's @MAC_europa while addressing the UN assembly on #ParisAgreement ratification https://t.co/4oTMEY5piP 🇪🇺🇺🇳 pic.twitter.com/5VYqd7n9kg
— EIT Climate-KIC (@ClimateKIC) September 22, 2016
Al Gore’s Climate Reality project highlighted how leaders from thirteen states, regions and provinces from across the world – including Europe, the US and Canada – made their way to New York to discuss regional climate action.
What do Vermont, Ontario, and Washington have in common? They’re taking a stand on #ClimateChange https://t.co/xHd3y313ts #CWNYC
— Climate Reality (@ClimateReality) September 19, 2016
Cities were well represented, and the Danish Cleantech Hub – which connects New York with Danish cleantech solutions and expertise – tweeted how Copenhagen’s mayor shared his city’s experience with climate change adaptation.
Mayor @mortenkabell on Copenhagen's best practices with integrating co-benefits through climate adaptation @koebenhavner #OneNYC #CWNYC pic.twitter.com/jcnwxwwMwJ
— Danish Cleantech Hub (@DKCleantechHub) September 22, 2016
Years of Living Dangerously, the climate change documentary series featuring celebrities including Arnold Schwarzenegger, premiered its second season at a special event in New York City.
Go behind the scenes of the star-studded premiere of climate docu-series @YEARSofLIVING at #CWNYC https://t.co/ZYj2fELWxc #YEARSproject pic.twitter.com/c0E9KPkp9M
— EIT Climate-KIC (@ClimateKIC) September 24, 2016
Apple was one of the companies to announce during Climate Week that it had joined the RE100 initiative, pledging to use 100 per cent renewable energy. This tweet from the Climate Group shows Apple’s environmental director Lisa Jackson making the announcement.
A warm welcome to Apple joining #RE100 committed to 100% renewable energy! Just announced at #CWNYC by @lisapjackson pic.twitter.com/Y6adsf5ehK
— RE100 (@theRE100) September 19, 2016
“When Apple, Bank of America and General Motors all announce plans to source 100 per cent renewable energy, it’s hard not to be optimistic about the future,” Unilever’s Thomas Lingard tweeted.
When @Apple @BankofAmerica and @GM all announce plans to source 100% renewable energy it's hard not to be optimistic about the future #CWNYC
— Thomas Lingard 🌍 (@thomaslingard) September 19, 2016
“We have to ripple the pond,” is how Apple CEO Tim Cook put it according to a tweet by Clean Trillion, the US campaign to mobilise and additional $1 trillion per year for renewable energy.
Apple CEO Tim Cook says “we have to the ripple in the pond” on clean energy shift – Apple has to bring others along – @lisapjackson #CWNYC
— Clean Trillion (@CleanTrillion) September 19, 2016
Canada’s Ontario province tweeted a bit of neighbourly advice for New Yorkers, with some top tips on how to help fight climate change at home.
It’s #CWNYC! Find out how we’re taking action on climate change: https://t.co/jJv7JL4rC1 #ONclimate pic.twitter.com/piHwBVuh5G
— Environment Ontario (@ONenvironment) September 19, 2016
Not only did the Empire State building light up green, Time Square featured a promotional video about Climate Week NYC on an enormous screen.
If you are still in New York City for #CWNYC, check out our amazing video on @TimesSquareNYC promoting the transition to a net-zero economy pic.twitter.com/lr77fYYURd
— Climate Group (@ClimateGroup) September 23, 2016
New York City has taken the equivalent of 668 cars off the road by installing just 9 megawatts of solar power on public buildings in the city, the city’s energy management company tweeted. New York says it will expand its solar capacity to 1000 megawatts by 2030.
https://twitter.com/energy_NYC/status/779417784593879040
Mark MacInnis posted a photo of a solar panel installation in New York City on Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKsmv6XBl-G/
New York is the largest hydroelectric power producer east of the Rocky Mountains. Climate-KIC veteran Angela Howarth tweeted this photo during a visit to the state’s Niagara Power Plant – good for more than 2500 megawatts.
Checking out the hydro electricity generation in New York State #CWNYC #innovation pic.twitter.com/FNhwIPpdIy
— Angela Howarth (@AngelaHowarthEU) September 25, 2016
Catherine McKenna, Canada’s climate change minister, tweeted a video message from Dutch chemicals multinational DSM’s Paulette van Ommen, who says her company has introduced an internal carbon price of €50 per tonne of CO2.
https://twitter.com/ec_minister/status/778729782724833280
Canada hosted a special event to discuss carbon pricing and how it can help boost innovation, this tweet from the Canadian mission to the UN reveals.
.@ec_minister hosts reception w/ the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition to discuss how to advance smart climate innovation #UNGA #CWNYC pic.twitter.com/x4t201AopQ
— Canada Mission UN (@CanadaUN) September 21, 2016
Environmental data specialist CDP released a new report on carbon pricing during Climate Week NYC. The momentum for the strategy seems “unstoppable,” CEO Paul Simpson tweeted.
Momentum behind #carbon pricing looks unstoppable: Our latest report out now https://t.co/L3Um1XYWv6 #CWNYC pic.twitter.com/L3MvClg415
— Paul Simpson OBE (@Pauljohnsimpson) September 19, 2016
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