EDF at Climate Week NYC 2025

Join Make Justice Normal for Street Works Earth, a free street arts and climate action festival created by artists committed to fostering joyful, community-led action in public spaces. Cocreate art alongside incredible artists and take climate action. This year’s event includes a career fair — Future@Work — for folks wondering what it means to work in climate and environmental justice, whether you’re just starting out or seeking a new path.

• Margot Brown, Senior Vice President, Justice and Equity, Environmental Defense Fund
• Jonathan Camuzeaux, Senior Director, Global Strategy and Engagement, Justice and Equity, Environmental Defense Fund
• Anjali Deshmukh, Cofounder, Make Justice Normal
• Ernest Verrett, Cofounder, Dabima
• Multiple artists

As the first program of its kind in the U.S., congestion pricing is already delivering cleaner air, reducing traffic and generating vital funding for public transit. New York’s success is now inspiring cities across the country to rethink how they tackle gridlock and create more connected communities. But with political opposition driving legal challenges, the program’s future depends on sustained, visible public support and a compelling narrative of progress. This event is hosted by the Congestion Pricing Now coalition, of which EDF is a leading member, and will bring together business, environmental and advocacy voices to discuss the first-in-the-nation program.

• Betsy Plum, Executive Director, Riders Alliance (moderator)
• Kathryn Wylde, President and CEO, the Partnership for New York City
• Tiffany-Ann Taylor, Vice President of Transportation, Regional Plan Association
• Peggy Shepard, Cofounder and Executive Director, WE ACT for Environmental Justice
• Polly Trottenberg, Dean, New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School, and former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation

Three powerful storytellers reflect on the legacies of land, resistance and environmental justice in a special Climate Week edition of Counterstream Media’s Story Salon, in partnership with EDF and Frontline Resource Institute. Chantel Comardelle of the Isle de Jean Charles Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Tribe presents “Preserving Our Place,” a visual journey through climate displacement and Indigenous knowledge. Alexandra Norris shares “Let No One Lose Heart,” spotlighting frontline activist Sharon Lavigne in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley. B. Preston Lyles brings “I Can’t Breathe,” exposing toxic prisons and cross-state demands for justice.

• Margot Brown, Senior Vice President, Justice and Equity, Environmental Defense Fund
• Shilpi Chhotray, Cofounder and President, Counterstream (host)
• Chantel Comardelle, Tribal Secretary, Isle de Jean Charles Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Tribe
• Alexandra Norris, Media Creator and Producer, Managing Creative Director, Climate Power
• B. Preston Lyles, Lead Organizer, Toxic Prisons Campaign of the Human Rights Coalition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Join us for a conversation on how local decision-makers, researchers and nongovernmental organizations are using data to explore current innovations and tackle emerging challenges for climate and health resilience. What happens if critical data becomes harder to access — or disappears altogether? How can communities future-proof their strategies and systems in an uncertain federal landscape? Together, we’ll examine the opportunities and obstacles ahead for data-driven resilience — and what that means for the future in a world facing climate vulnerabilities.

• Sarah Vogel, Senior Vice President, Healthy Communities, Environmental Defense Fund (moderator)
• Margot Brown, Senior Vice President, Justice and Equity, Environmental Defense Fund
• Arnab Ghosh, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College
• Ben Spoer, Program Director, Health Dashboards Initiative, NYU Langone Health
• Trisha Stein, Chief Strategy Officer, City of Detroit
• Shawyn Patterson-Howard, Mayor, City of Mount Vernon, New York
• Lauren Smalls-Mantey, Senior Environmental Systems Scientist, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Small island nations like the Bahamas face extreme fuel costs, climate vulnerability and fragile marine ecosystems — all exacerbated by a reliance on fossil fuel-powered vessels. This panel introduces an ambitious solution: Fleet-in-a-Box, a turnkey pilot program delivering electric workboats and solar-powered charging stations to underserved Bahamian islands. The initiative showcases how marine electrification can advance climate resilience, energy equity and economic development in Small Island Developing States. Panelists will unveil key findings from a new feasibility study and announce the first Fleet-in-a-Box deployment in Acklins and Crooked Island — complete with boats, solar microgrids and community-led implementation.

• Marie Hubatova, Director, Global Shipping, Environmental Defense Fund
• Peter Bryant, Program Director, Oceans, Builders Vision (moderator)
• Ann-Marie Albury, Executive Director, Bahamas Fly Fishing Industry Association, and President, the Bahamas Natural Resources Foundation
• Marcelino Alvarez, CEO and Cofounder, Photon Marine
• Simon Dent, Managing Director, Outrigger Impact

By 2030, AI data centers — a central infrastructure component to the accelerating AI industry — are projected to double their electricity demand, potentially matching the power consumption of entire nations. Countries and industry leaders eager to fuel the AI revolution are grappling with tough trade-offs around costs, regulation and responsibility. How can policymakers, utilities and corporations address the growing demand for electricity sustainably, reliably and affordably without compromising progress on climate goals? Foreign Policy and EDF will convene a panel to explore how the U.S. and the global community can power the AI era sustainably.

• Natasha Vidangos, Associate Vice President, Innovation and Technology Policy, Environmental Defense Fund

The dairy industry is evolving to meet today’s complex challenges — from climate change and supply disruptions to shifting consumer demands. This session convenes sustainability and business leaders to explore successful strategies and future innovations for building a more sustainable, resilient dairy value chain.

• Vrashabh Kapate, Senior Manager, Global Dairy Sector, Environmental Defense Fund

Join EDF, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, Clean Air Task Force and Spark Climate Solutions for a dynamic 2-hour session exploring the key pillars for optimizing productivity and reducing livestock emissions: feed, breed and animal health. This holistic approach delivers mutually reinforcing wins for climate, livelihoods and health. The event will feature perspectives from diverse livestock stakeholders and showcase examples of innovative finance, capital needs, opportunities for technology development and adoption, and the importance of intentional data and robust measurement frameworks. Together, these discussions will explore how sustainable livestock systems can achieve their core goals: food production, economic growth, land protection and emissions reductions.

• Jennifer Chow, Senior Director, Climate-Resilient Food Systems, Environmental Defense Fund
• Fernanda Ferreira, Director of Agriculture Methane, Clean Air Task Force
• Greg Kohler, Agriculture Expert, Climate and Clean Air Coalition
• Charles Brooke, Program Lead, Enteric Methane, Spark
• Appolinaire Djikeng, Director General, International Livestock Research Institute
• Frank Wooten, CEO, ArkeaBio (formerly Vence)
• Francisco Peñagaricano, Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Paul Myer, CEO, Athian
• Andrew Bisson, Senior Livestock Systems, Agriculture and Resilience Advisor, LD4D

Despite federal attacks on climate progress, U.S. states can still collectively make an impact to help the nation reach its climate goals while simultaneously delivering real, proactive affordability solutions to their communities. In this panel discussion, we’ll explore innovative analyses that showcase how powerful pollution-cutting policies designed to achieve emissions targets can advance affordability in states.

• Pam Kiely, Associate Vice President, U.S. Region, Environmental Defense Fund (moderator)
• Dallas Burtraw, Darius Gaskins Senior Fellow, Resources for the Future
• Jonah Kurman-Faber, Founder and Principal, Greenline Insights

This 360-degree immersive film premiere reveals methane’s hidden role in climate change — and how to fix it. Narrated by U.N. Youth Advisor Sophia Kianni, the evening blends striking visuals with voices from science, art and culture. It’s an evening of insight and connection with artists, changemakers and scientists who are turning data into climate action, and inspiring us to help shape the story of our shared future.

• Amy Middleton, Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Environmental Defense Fund
• Daniel Zavala-Araiza, Lead Senior Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund
• Adam Met, Musician, Academic, and Climate Activist
• Bec Newman, Creative Director, “In Plain Sight”
• Nimay Ndolo, Content Creator and Influencer, and Founder, CityAesthetica
• Sophia Kianni, U.N. Youth Advisor, and Founder, Climate Cardinals (moderator)

This event will convene leading voices in technology, business and environmental advocacy to explore the critical role of innovation in tackling climate change and advancing sustainable development. Visit the event registration page to view the agenda and learn when you can connect with EDF experts.

• Amanda Leland, Executive Director, Environmental Defense Fund
• Britt Groosman, Senior Vice President, Agriculture, Water and Food, Environmental Defense Fund
• Amy Middleton, Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Environmental Defense Fund

Cornell University, in partnership with Environmental Defense Fund, Clean Air Task Force and The Nature Conservancy, will showcase how cross-sector collaboration is turning livestock methane research into real-world climate solutions. The event will explore pathways from innovation to policy to on-farm practice, with panels on technology, adoption, financing and measurement. Attendees will gain insights into overcoming implementation challenges and into the vital role of philanthropy in scaling impact.

• Fred Krupp, President, Environmental Defense Fund
• Joe Rudek, Lead Senior Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund
• John Tauzel, Senior Director, Global Agriculture Methane, Environmental Defense Fund
• Mario Herrero, Director of Food Systems and Global Change, Cornell University
• David Lodge, Francis J. DiSalvo Director, Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability
• Diana Reyes, Postdoctoral Associate, Animal Science, Cornell University
• Jonathan Banks, Global Director, Methane Pollution Prevention, Clean Air Task Force
• Fernanda Ferreira, Director, Agriculture Methane, Clean Air Task Force
• Mark van Nieuwland, Vice President, Bovaer DSM

EDF Climate Corps invites university faculty, staff and green workforce champions to a networking event exploring how university fellowship programs are transforming corporate climate action. Connect with innovative peers, discover proven workforce development strategies and uncover collaboration opportunities to cultivate the next generation of climate leaders who will drive real environmental impact.

• Brianna Duran, Manager of Training and Education Initiatives, EDF Climate Corps (moderator)
• John Kim, Graduate Programs Career Advisor and Adjunct Faculty, University of Vermont Grossman School of Business
• Shelby Sack, Program Manager, Colorado State University Impact MBA
• Chris Gassman, Senior Associate Director, Center for Sustainable Business, University of Pittsburgh

Explore supplier engagement strategies with BSR’s Climate and Nature team and EDF’s Net Zero Action Accelerator to advance your company’s Scope 3 emissions reduction goals. These candid conversations will uncover effective strategies for companies to overcome common supplier engagement barriers, align supplier incentives toward climate action and build internal collaboration with procurement stakeholders.

• Ellen Shenette, Director, Net Zero Action Accelerator, Environmental Defense Fund
• Adam Fishman, Associate Director, BSR
• Jordan Faires, Senior Manager, Net Zero, Environmental Defense Fund