NYC GOES GREEN AS GLOBAL POLITICAL LEADERS OPEN 10th CLIMATE WEEK NYC 2018

National leaders speaking include Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, in her first trip to the UN General Assembly

of New Zealand, in her first trip to the UN General Assembly Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Patricia Espinosa, and California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., will deliver a ‘Step Up’ climate message from thousands of businesses, states and cities to the world’s national governments gathered at the UN General Assembly

and will deliver a ‘Step Up’ climate message from thousands of businesses, states and cities to the world’s national governments gathered at the UN General Assembly Presidents of nations most vulnerable to the effects of climate change – President Hilda C. Heine , Marshall Islands, and President Jovenel Moïse , Republic of Haiti – will deliver keynote speeches

, Marshall Islands, and , Republic of Haiti – will deliver keynote speeches President Martín Vizcarra of Peru, the first South American country to enshrine into law its targets to achieve the Paris Agreement on climate, will also speak

of Peru, the first South American country to enshrine into law its targets to achieve the Paris Agreement on climate, will also speak CEOs of ENEL, Ricoh, IKEA Group and speakers from other businesses including AB InBev will demonstrate business leadership in clean energy

The Empire State Building, 1 World Trade Center, and New York City Hall, among others, are lit up green for Climate Week NYC

TheTimesCenter, New York City, Monday September 24, 2018

At the Opening Ceremony of Climate Week NYC today, global political leaders will assemble to drive forward momentum on climate action. Climate Week NYC, run by The Climate Group in coordination with the United Nations and the City of New York, and taking place annually during the UN General Assembly, is now in its 10th year.

During the event, California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., will invite governments to amplify the urgent need for climate action, following the ‘Step Up’ climate action message from the Global Climate Action Summit earlier this month.

Global leaders including the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand; President Hilda C. Heine of the Marshall Islands; President Martín Vizcarra of Peru; and President Jovenel Moïse of the Republic of Haiti, will all headline the event.

Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Patricia Espinosa, will emphasise the role of international institutions in the climate world.

Global businesses from technology, finance, energy, and consumer goods from organisations such as Ricoh, Microsoft, AB InBev and IKEA Group, will set out their business plans to accelerate climate action, and why they in turn need governments to provide long term strategy and policy for the future. Analysts from Bloomberg and JP Morgan as well as the founder of Zipcar, will set out what needs to happen in the next 10 years on climate action, and what needs to be done if we are to prevent the catastrophic effects of climate change.

Helen Clarkson, CEO, The Climate Group, said:

“For 10 years, Climate Week NYC has driven momentum and looked to the future. It is an event that mobilises businesses, states, and regions to deliver the solutions needed to act on climate change and will continue to be a force to drive forward climate action, pulling the world toward a future of clean energy and zero emissions. “With the backing of hundreds of global multinationals as well as state and regional governments worldwide, Climate Week NYC is not only showcasing what climate leadership can achieve, but also defining what more needs to be done.”

California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr, said:

“Ten days ago we closed the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco with strong new commitments and this week we carry that momentum across the country to Climate Week NYC. The path away from fossil fuels is daunting but California and like-minded partners will press on.”

Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, said:

“It is my hope that on its 10-year anniversary, NYC Climate Week and the presence of many world leaders, will once again gather decisive political support for a successful outcome at COP24.” She continued: “This year’s Climate Change Conference – COP24 – to be held in Poland in December, will see a final round of negotiations on the guidelines that will tell the world how to implement the Paris Agreement fairly and transparently for all, while respecting countries’ different realities at home. These implementation guidelines will unlock practical climate actions and need to include the increased provision of support, especially finance, to boost developing countries’ actions.

Stephen Badger, Chairman, Mars said:

“In order to tackle climate change, we need a fundamental transformation in the way business works, from rethinking supply chains to going ‘all in’ on renewables. It’s time for business to step up with what is necessary to do our part to prevent climate disaster.”

Jake Yamashita, Ricoh’s President & CEO, said:

“Ricoh’s mission is to pursue excellence, improve quality of life and drive sustainability. I look forward to sharing our sustainable business practices and reinforcing our desire to empower societies to work smarter at #ClimateWeekNYC.”

Country commitments as they stand do not go far enough to achieve the goals set out by the Paris Agreement on climate to keep global warming at below 2°C. This is a huge challenge to overcome, which will require not only national governments, but states, cities, regions and businesses, to collaborate and move forward.

Climate Week NYC is the time and place where the world gathers to showcase leading climate action, builds upon ambition, and demonstrates how to do more.

Events and announcements are taking place on each day of the week – with a major business story on Tuesday.

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FURTHER INFORMATION

To find out more or request interviews, email Hannah Prime or phone +44 7912 514 445 (based in New York until the end of Climate Week NYC.)

Climate Week NYC Media Portal

This year we have introduced a Climate Week Media Portal – you can log in here to find all the latest on Climate Week NYC including press releases, as well as agendas, logos, photographs and videos in the lead up and during the week itself. The link to log in to the Portal is here - email media@theclimategroup.org for the password.

About The Climate Group

The Climate Group’s mission is to accelerate climate action to achieve a world of under 2°C of global warming. We do this by bringing together powerful networks of business and governments that shift global markets and policies. We focus on the greatest global opportunities for change, take innovation and solutions to scale, and build ambition and pace. We are an international non-profit organization, founded in 2004, with offices in London, New Delhi and New York. Our business campaigns are brought to you as part of the We Mean Business coalition.

Follow us on Twitter @ClimateGroup and Facebook @TheClimateGroup.

About Climate Week NYC

Climate Week NYC is the time and place where the world gathers to showcase amazing climate action and discusses how to do more. Taking place between September 24-30, in New York City, this is the 10th annual Climate Week NYC, run by The Climate Group in coordination with the United Nations and the City of New York. Climate Week NYC is one of the key summits in the international calendar and has been driving action forward since it was first launched by The Climate Group in 2009. We host government ministers, investors, governors, CEOs and mayors from across the world; they are shaping markets and setting policy to make climate action a reality.

Visit ClimateWeekNYC.org and find out more on Twitter #ClimateWeekNYC.

Climate Week NYC Sponsors and Supporting Partners:

With thanks to AB InBev, Microsoft, Mars, ROCKWOOL Group, JP Morgan Chase & Co, International Copper Association, Bank of America, National Grid US, Johnson & Johnson, Colgate, Anesco, LeasePlan, Estée Lauder Companies, Orsted, TERI, Essential Costa Rica, IKEA Group, Raw London, Pfizer, Solid Power, S&P Global, The Rockefeller Foundation, WePower, 3Degrees, Lyft, Empire State Building, Event! Merchandising, NYC & Co., The New York City Mayor's Office of Recovery and Resiliency, The New York City Mayor’s Office of Sustainability.