Pacific Environment at Climate Week NYC 2026

Our focus at Climate Week NYC

Climate Week NYC is more than a series of events — it’s an opportunity to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships and build momentum for lasting change. This year, we’re focusing on:

Accelerating the transition to zero-emission shipping

We're highlighting the innovative research, policies, partnerships and technologies helping move the maritime sector toward zero-emission shipping and cleaner port operations.
Sharing global solutions

We're bringing together insights from leading regions — including New York, California and Asia — to explore what's working, what's scalable and how communities can learn from one another.
Cross-sector collaboration

We're connecting expertise across shipping, ocean conservation, plastics reduction and Arctic protection to explore shared challenges and advance solutions that benefit people and the planet.
Shaping the global agenda

We're helping connect local and regional progress with global conversations, contributing insights that can help inform upcoming negotiations at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) and beyond.

Monday, September 21

Powering up the future of ports: Lessons from leading maritime electrification projects

Hosted by Pacific Environment and EDF
8 – 9:30 a.m. ET
EDF New York City Office, Forest Room
257 Park Ave. S., 17th Floor, New York, NY 10010

Ports are essential to the maritime energy transition and achieving net-zero shipping by mid-century. This roundtable brings together port authorities, ship owners, investors, utilities and policymakers to explore how leading ports are advancing electrification — from shore power and charging infrastructure to battery-electric vessels, cargo-handling equipment and grid modernization. Speakers, including members of the Pacific Environment team, will discuss the infrastructure, policy and investment needed to scale these efforts and share lessons that can help accelerate maritime decarbonization across regions.

Rethinking ship finance: Moving beyond fossil-fuel-powered newbuilds

Attended by Pacific Environment staff
10 – 11:30 a.m. ET
Closed-door (limited capacity)

Ship finance plays a critical role in determining which vessels are built and whether shipping locks in fossil-fuel emissions for decades to come. This closed-door discussion hosted by Solutions for Our Climate brings together partners across shipping and finance to explore how banks, leasing companies and export credit agencies can help accelerate the shift toward zero-emission vessels. Participants will examine current financing practices, identify opportunities for collaboration and advocacy, and share perspectives to inform future strategies for transforming ship finance.

The Ocean Awakens: Earth’s Final Frontier

Attended by Pacific Environment staff
1:30 – 8 p.m. ET
Tall Ship Wavertree, South Street Seaport Museum
89 South St, New York, NY 10038

The ocean is at the heart of the climate crisis, from plastic pollution and biodiversity loss to the rapid transformation of maritime technology. The Ocean Awakens brings together leaders from business, science, nonprofits and the arts for a half-day of conversations and networking aboard the historic Tall Ship Wavertree during Climate Week NYC. The program will explore ocean solutions, funding, policy and advocacy, technology, and the role of storytelling in advancing ocean action.

Tuesday, September 22

Shipping a Healthy Planet: How the Maritime Sector Can Accelerate Climate and Ocean Action

Attended by Pacific Environment staff
8:30 – 10 a.m. ET
Closed-door (limited capacity)

Hosted by the Sustainable Shipping Initiative, Resilience4Ports and United Nations Foundation, this New York Climate Week event will explore the maritime sector’s role in the ocean-climate nexus. Maritime professionals will discuss how shipping and ports can be incorporated into national climate and ocean action plans, as well as the energy infrastructure needed to support low- and zero-emission operations. The conversation will highlight opportunities for greater coordination across the maritime, climate and ocean sectors.

The State of Ocean-Climate Action in a World of Accelerating Change

Attended by Pacific Environment staff
9 a.m.–1 p.m. ET
New York City Bar
42 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

Hosted by Ocean Visions, this New York Climate Week event will explore challenges at the ocean-climate nexus and emerging approaches to address them. The discussion will bring together leaders across research, investment, innovation and policy to examine ocean-based solutions for advancing the transition to net zero, restoring critical ocean systems and accelerating ocean-climate action. The event will also mark the launch of Launchpad 2.0, Ocean Visions’ next phase of support for ocean-climate innovators.

Climate Action in Shipping – Progress towards shipping’s 2023 breakthrough report launch

Attended by Pacific Environment staff
3 – 5:30 p.m. ET
Arup, New York Office
140 Broadway, 19th floor, New York, NY 10005

Hosted by the Global Maritime Forum, University College London and the Marrakech Partnership, this New York Climate Week event will launch the fifth edition of the Climate Action in Shipping report. The discussion will examine progress toward the 2030 goal of scaling zero-emission shipping fuels, with a focus on developments across technology, finance, demand, policy and civil society. Speakers will also explore how the industry is navigating uncertainty at the IMO while advancing action through national and regional policies, green corridors and other initiatives supporting the transition to zero-emission shipping.

Making sustainable fuels work: Building the markets, guardrails and partnerships for a credible energy transition

Attended by Pacific Environment staff
4:30 – 6 p.m. ET
Invite-only (limited capacity)

Hosted by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), this New York Climate Week session will explore the role of sustainable fuels in decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors. The interactive discussion will examine how cross-sector collaboration, policy and financial tools can help build sustainable fuels markets and accelerate investment, while ensuring these solutions deliver meaningful climate and environmental benefits.

Future of sustainable fuels: Addressing global risks of land-use change for maritime biofuels

Attended by Pacific Environment staff
6 – 7:30 p.m. ET
Invite-only (limited capacity)

Hosted by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), this New York Climate Week event will bring together key stakeholders to discuss sustainability standards for alternative marine fuels as the International Maritime Organization advances a global measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships. The discussion will focus on how to assess indirect land-use change risks associated with crop-based biofuel feedstocks and explore a potential risk-based assessment framework for the IMO. The event builds on discussions held during London Climate Action Week 2026 and will consider a possible path forward for addressing these risks.

Wednesday, September 23

Maritime Community of Action

Attended by Pacific Environment staff
8 – 9:30 a.m. ET
Invite-only (limited capacity)

There is no additional information about this event at this time. Please check back later.

Superpollutant Action Summit

Attended by Pacific Environment staff
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET
Address available upon registration

The Superpollutant Action Summit, convened by Beyond Alliance, brings together leaders across business, science, government, and civil society to accelerate near-term action on methane, black carbon, N₂O, and HFCs. The full-day event will explore the policies, financing, and innovative solutions needed to scale superpollutant reductions, with discussions on corporate action, emerging market mechanisms, and opportunities to drive meaningful climate and public health benefits.

Green Fuels for Green Shipping (GF4GS)- Accelerating the Maritime Transition: Scaling Maritime Solutions Through Smart Policy

Attended by Pacific Environment staff
3 – 5 p.m. ET
Closed-door (limited capacity)

Co-organized by the United Nations Foundation, University College London (UCL), Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), Green Hydrogen Organisation and Ambition Loop, this New York Climate Week event will explore real-world solutions accelerating the transition to zero-emission shipping. Senior leaders and government representatives will discuss the policies needed to scale zero-emission fuels and technologies, as well as opportunities to expand green shipping corridors, ports and fuel hubs. The conversation will also examine how the transition can support investment, green industrialization and new fuel-production opportunities in emerging and developing economies.

Port Powerhouse Reception

Attended by Pacific Environment staff
5 – 7 p.m. ET
Invite-only

Hosted by the High Ambition Climate Collective, Port of Seattle and Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, this invite-only reception will kick off Port Powerhouse: Ports powering a climate-positive economy during Climate Week NYC. The evening will bring together leaders from ports, shipping, energy and blue technology to connect, exchange ideas and build momentum around the role of ports in advancing a climate-positive economy. The event is held in partnership with C40 Cities, UN Global Compact Ocean Stewardship Coalition and Global Maritime Forum.

Thursday, September 24

Port Powerhouse: Ports powering a climate-positive economy

Attended by Pacific Environment staff
8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. ET
Address available upon registration

Hosted by the High Ambition Climate Collective, Port of Seattle and Port of New York-New Jersey, Port Powerhouse brings together leaders to explore how ports can drive climate action, clean energy deployment, resilient infrastructure and economic competitiveness. The Climate Week NYC convening will feature a plenary program, deep-dive sessions and networking focused on the role of ports in building a climate-positive economy and supporting thriving communities.

Maritime Action: Accelerating Innovation and Efficiency in North American Shipping

Attended by Pacific Environment staff
2:30 – 6:30 p.m. ET
Address available upon registration

Hosted by the Blue Sky Maritime Coalition, this New York Climate Week event will explore how North America can strengthen maritime competitiveness through investments in infrastructure, industrial capacity, modern fleets, advanced fuels, technology and workforce development. Two expert panels will examine how the maritime industry can improve productivity, reduce costs and emissions, and create greater value across the sector.

Designing our Energy Future

Attended by Pacific Environment staff
3:30 – 6 p.m. ET
Elsie’s Rooftop
1412 Broadway, New York, NY 10018

Hosted by RMI, this New York Climate Week event will explore the choices shaping the next era of energy as demand continues to rise. RMI leaders and guests from government, technology and industry will discuss how technology, markets, infrastructure and investment can help shape an energy future that is affordable, secure and clean. The conversation will continue with cocktails and live music following the program.