New York Climate Week 2025 is a wrap. 

From September 21 to 26, Manhattan’s iconic skyscrapers provided the backdrop for high-level conversations, partnerships, and discussions, all focused on advancing solutions to the climate crisis. Held alongside the 80th UN General Assembly, the week served as an important platform to build momentum ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil. 

The urgency of the climate challenge has been ever-present throughout the week. With global emissions off track and many climate ambitions still falling short, this year’s New York Climate Week focused on actionable steps to mobilise climate finance, accelerate the green energy transition, and make nature-based solutions a central part of global climate strategies. As international leaders gathered, one message was clear:

The geopolitical situation is not a showstopper. The green transition is here to stay, and basic economics show that green energy will offer a solid return on investment.

In this context, State of Green has been actively involved in fostering dialogue and facilitating new and existing partnerships throughout the week in NYC. All highlighting the value of international collaboration and commitment for global climate action. 

Investors’ recipe for accelerating the green transition 

On September 22, State of Green organised an evening reception together with PensionDanmark, PKA and PFA, bringing together key figures from across policy, diplomacy, and finance to explore how to accelerate the green transition through private investment. The reception was part of the “Partnerships for the Future” Summit – a summit hosted by the General Consulate of Denmark, Danish Industry and the Danish Chamber of Commerce. 

The reception featured leaders from Denmark’s largest pension funds, collectively managing over USD 230 billion in assets. In a time of increasing global complexity and volatility, they shared their evolving approach to investing in renewables.

Moving from large-scale projects to smaller, more local initiatives, their focus has shifted in response to the changing landscape. A key theme was the importance of maintaining visibility on settlement prices; without this, investments risk being thrown out of balance, leading to complications. They emphasised the need for new models that offer downside protection and first-loss guarantees, ensuring private investors can participate with more confidence. Public-private capital, they argued, will play a crucial role in de-risking investments and driving the green transition forward. 

In an inspiring keynote, John Kerry, Co-Executive Chairman of Galvanize Climate Solutions and former U.S. Secretary of State, emphasised that 75 percent of all US investment opportunities lie at the state and local level, where several governors and local authorities are deeply committed to sustainable growth.

He also highlighted the growing demand for flexible and fast power across the U.S., particularly for data centres, which are expected to be built in increasing numbers. This new energy future, he added, will not only benefit our planet but also improve our health. 

Both European Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra and Denmark’s Minister for Green Transition Jeppe Bruus echoed this sentiment, calling for stronger international cooperation to overcome the complex geopolitical and economic challenges facing the green transition. 

The summit not only provided a platform for sharing ideas but also acted as a catalyst for the formation of new partnerships that will help drive financial green investments.

Discussing energy outlook and investment trends with BloombergNEF

On September 24, State of Green, in collaboration with BloombergNEF, hosted a high-level roundtable during the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum 2025 to discuss the key drivers of the global energy transition. This session, held at The Plaza Hotel in the heart of New York, gathered leaders from across the energy, finance, and technology sectors to dive into the critical challenges and opportunities in transitioning to a decarbonised energy system. 

With an exclusive preview of BloombergNEF’s latest energy and investment trends report, presented by Jon Moore, CEO, and Albert Cheun, Deputy CEO from BloombergNEF, the scene was set for a discussion on several key topics, including how data centres are projected to quadruple power demand by 2035, the critical role of infrastructure, and the massive investments required. 

One of the discussions revolved around the cost implications of reaching a net-zero energy system by 2050. Here, the report points out that reaching this target only carries 9 percent higher cost for the global energy system. The conversation also highlighted the urgent need for significant investments in green infrastructure and the role of de-risking finance to help unlock the full potential of clean energy technologies.

Participants also recognised the growing importance of water resilience and the need for comprehensive infrastructure investments to support decarbonization efforts across various sectors. The roundtable reaffirmed that ensuring the energy transition is both affordable and inclusive will require collaborative approaches, optimised financial frameworks, and continued investments in innovation.

For both the Danish and international organisations placed around the table, the roundtable offered an opportunity to explore cross-border collaboration and investment strategies that could drive sustainable solutions, strong supply chains and enhance resilience in the face of global challenges. 

Key agreements and partnerships were announced during the week 

Throughout the week, several key announcements and agreements were made, underscoring Denmark’s ongoing commitment to international cooperation and climate action. 

Signed during NYCW, Denmark and Ukraine formalised a collaboration aimed at promoting sustainable land-use practices while rebuilding Ukraine. The partnership, which will draw inspiration from Denmark’s Green Tripartite Agreement, will focus on reducing agricultural emissions, restoring forests, and supporting climate-smart agricultural practices in Ukraine.

Another great partnership celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a renewal of the climate adaptation partnership between Copenhagen and New York City at a ceremony at the General Consulate on Thursday, the 25th. The collaboration focuses on sharing knowledge and strategies for improving urban climate resilience – especially regarding cloudburst. This city-to-city partnership has already resulted in New York launching its own stormwater program inspired by Copenhagen. Copenhagen, in turn, has gained valuable insights from New York’s Green Infrastructure program, particularly in relation to monitoring – an aspect that will also be incorporated into Copenhagen’s upcoming revision of the Climate Adaptation Strategy.

Finally, back home, Denmark issued the world’s first sovereign green bond, aiming to raise capital for renewable energy projects, transport decarbonisiation and land-use-transformation. Underscoring yet again a continued commitment, while setting a benchmark for other nations looking to fund their own green transitions. 

The road towards COP30 

New York Climate Week very much highlighted the importance of continued collaborative efforts and innovative financing in addressing the climate challenge. But it also emphasised the good intentions and commitments from governments, businesses, and civil society.  

Looking ahead, the initiatives and agreements made during NYCW 2025 will continue to guide progress, with COP30 in Belém, Brazil, serving as one of the next important milestones. The momentum built during this week will help shape the discussions and outcomes at COP30, where the international community will assess progress and raise ambition for the future.