Reflections from Climate Week NYC 2024

A couple of weeks have passed since Climate Week NYC 2024, and as I reflect on the events and discussions that took place, I am reminded of the urgency surrounding every session and conversation. One quote from the week has stuck with me. Veteran ABC meteorologist Ginger Zee opened the week with a stark reminder: “We no longer have time to react like in previous years. We have to react now.” This sentiment echoed throughout the week as Zee spoke about her experience covering hurricanes, where the usual five-day lead time has shrunk dramatically. As she spoke, the Gulf of Mexico produced two of the fastest-forming and most destructive hurricanes on record, back-to-back.

These rapidly intensifying storms underline the pressing need for immediate action. The increasing frequency of extreme weather events highlights the devastating human, infrastructural, and economic toll of climate change. This reality hit home for me during Climate Week and the days since I returned. It was a stark reminder that our work is more critical than ever.

By the end of the week, discussions had shifted towards broader environmental impacts. At the World Climate Foundation’s Biodiversity Summit, there was a strong focus on the intersection between climate change and biodiversity. Dr. Harvey Locke, who moderated the keynote, delivered an insightful reminder about the interconnectedness of climate and nature. He pointed out three key points that should frame our thinking:

1. Disturbing nature leads to an increase in emissions.
2. Disturbing nature reduces nature’s capacity to sequester carbon.
3. We cannot meet Paris Agreement temperature goals unless we protect ecosystems that serve as carbon storehouses and sinks.

This resonated deeply with me. After returning from Climate Week last year, I reflected on the role of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in addressing the climate crisis. This year, the discussions around biodiversity solidified the importance of a holistic approach. Limiting LCA to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions alone risks missing the bigger picture. Climate and nature are inextricably linked, and the broad insights that LCA offers are crucial in understanding and mitigating this interconnected crisis.

A key takeaway came from Professor Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, who presented his latest findings. He emphasized that “land use change reduces the ability of natural systems to take up carbon.”

This statement underscored the role that broad-spectrum LCA data plays in capturing the full scope of environmental impacts. Companies must look beyond carbon in their reporting because addressing the climate challenge requires a comprehensive view of how land use, biodiversity, and emissions are interwoven.

On the topic of reporting, I noticed a shift in the conversations this year. There was less worry about how to report and more focus on the challenges of scaling these processes effectively. At the WBCSD Pathway to Action for Climate Transparency (PACT) Summit, I joined over 100 corporates, service providers, and non-profits to discuss the complexities of reporting Scope 3 emissions. The consensus was clear: Transitioning to a PACT methodology could offer a more accurate representation of real-world operations. The need to standardize reporting while making it adaptable for diverse sectors is something I found particularly valuable in the conversations.

I was fortunate to continue the discussion with Naama Avni Kadosh from PACT the next day. We exchanged insights on leading mission-driven organizations and explored the shared goals that PACT and ecoinvent are working towards. These discussions are vital for moving the needle on corporate transparency and accountability.

Of course, Climate Week is not only about discussions in plenary sessions; it’s also a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with partners and friends. I had a chance to join a Scope 3 workshop alongside Altana, Climate Trace, and Epoch Blue, where Walmart, Mars, and Teralytiquie were active participants. Additionally, I met with several key partners, including Watershed, Persefoni, S&P, SAP, and the GHG Protocol, to explore new opportunities for collaboration.

It was also great to catch up with former colleagues from Siemens. And on a personal note, I’m proud to say I completed a lap around Central Park faster than last year. Not too bad for an old guy!

One final reflection: In every room I walked into during Climate Week, at least one person knew about ecoinvent. After two and a half years in this role, it still amazes me to see how far-reaching our database has become. To think that a dedicated team based in Zürich is producing a resource that is so critical to organizations worldwide fills me with immense pride. Well done to everyone at ecoinvent for your continued hard work and commitment to making a global impact.

Climate Week NYC reminds us of the immense challenges ahead and the collective momentum and determination driving us forward. Let’s keep the conversations going and, more importantly, keep scaling the positive environmental momentum we are building.

— Nickolas Meyer, CEO of ecoinvent