25 September, 2026

Climate Week NYC, the world’s largest climate event, is underway, bringing together business leaders and policymakers from around the world. Running alongside the UN General Assembly, it remains one of the most influential moments in the climate calendar, particularly for businesses, with this year’s discussions centred on energy and the collective action needed to drive the transition forward.

This might cause some to question how Climate Week differs from COP? Well, COP remains the primary forum for international climate negotiations and government commitments. Climate Week, in contrast, has positioned itself as a forum for implementation. The conversation is less about setting new targets, and more about delivering on the ones already made, whether that’s through scaling clean energy, cutting supply chain emissions or mobilising investment. All of which makes it particularly useful, and important, for business.

Recent COP summits have drawn criticism for falling short of what’s needed, including from the EU’s climate chief. Climate Week isn’t trying to replace these negotiations. Instead, it complements them by bringing together the organisations responsible for financing, building and delivering the energy transition. If COP is where climate commitments are made, Climate Week is where stakeholders put them into practice.

Governments remain essential, but there is growing recognition that businesses have a critical role to play through the products and services they offer, in addition to the supply chains they manage. As attention shifts from pledges to delivery, companies will face mounting pressure to show they can translate commitments into measurable outcomes. In that sense, and if we’re feeling optimistic, Climate Week offers a preview of the next phase of climate action: one defined not by ambition alone, but by implementation.

By Charity Rymer