By Ennie Akinwunmi
NYC Climate Week brings together politicians, business leaders, youth activists, and local community leaders for a series of carefully curated events aimed at uniting the public on critical issues surrounding climate change. This year, as my schedule permitted, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend two NYCW events and witness the sheer magnitude and impact of climate centered organizations.
During my undergraduate years, one of my first experiences in Climate/EJ work was organizing a climate week at Penn. Through the Office of Sustainability, I collaborated with cultural affinity groups to create climate-focused events, which gave me a deep appreciation for the creative and strategic aspects of impactful event planning. This experience made me especially excited to attend NYC Climate Week for the first time this year.
Here’s a photo recap of some of my memorable experiences!
First event: “Fighting for Housing! A ferry talk and tour with Karen Blondel”🛥
One of the best parts of NYC’s public transportation systems is the ferry! So when I saw there was an opportunity to ride my favorite mode of transportation and talk about housing + environmental justice, I marked my calendar expeditiously. Although I went alone and was prepared to enjoy the experience in my own company, I ended up bonding with a group of strangers (soon to be friends!) who were just as excited as me for the journey ahead!
View from inside of the ferry!
During the 20 minute ferry ride from DUMBO to Red Hook, Yessenia Funes
interviews Karen Blondel, president of the Red Hook West Houses Residents Association and longtime climate activist, who spoke to the institutional and environmental harms her community faces, her role in mobilizing against them, and ways that we as NYC residents can be involved.
After exiting the ferry, Karen gave us a brief tour of Red Hook as we walked to a brewery for the Climate Week Kickoff Happy Hour. As a Bedstuy resident, this was my first time experiencing the south eastern side of Brooklyn and having someone as knowledgeable and connected as Karen guiding the way. For instance, we stopped and checked out a local artist that creates 3D image structures from layering sheets of glass!
Second event: “Earth Sessions: an immersive climate art experience at the intersection of radical imagination and environmental optimism”
I was also able to participate in Earth Session with a couple of friends. Not only did we
indulge in free books and trinkets offered by environmental groups, but we were also serenaded by Earth Gang! On top of that, climate influencers like QueerBrownVegan and Wawa Gatheru, who constantly inspire me, gave powerful speeches on how their identities seamlessly intersect with the natural world. It was the perfect way to wrap up the week, reminding me to stay present and find joy, even during tough times.
Climate Week NYC was a powerful reminder that, even in a world where it can feel like no one cares, people truly do. The work of climate action can sometimes feel exhausting, especially when you see the same faces over and over, but the sheer number of attendees at Climate Week showed that people are paying attention and getting involved. The diverse range of events highlighted the importance of inclusive planning, allowing the movement to connect with people from all walks of life—urban planners, artists, startup professionals—and reaching those with intersecting identities. Moreover, the local, place-based events in New York City and Brooklyn were eye-opening, demonstrating that local efforts can be just as impactful as global ones. Ordinary people are mobilizing to protect the communities they love, and their passion is an inspiring force for change.
If you want to stay connected with Ennie, you can find them on LinkedIn!
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