Entertainment Takes the Lead at New York Climate Week 2025
New York Climate Week 2025 marked a significant shift in its approach to climate action, with the people taking the lead. This year, the event recognised the power of storytelling in driving change, moving beyond announcements and activism.
Previous Climate Weeks focused on finance, frameworks, and activism. However, this year, the power of film and television came to the forefront. The 'Solutions on Screen' presentation, featuring major entertainment companies like Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Universal Pictures, highlighted the role of entertainment in shaping imaginations and igniting action.
The Solutions House, convened by Futerra and the Exponential Roadmap Initiative, became the hub for practical solutions and unlikely alliances, with a strong focus on the people. Panels discussed brand deals, partnerships, and narrative pipelines, indicating a shift in the industry's perception of itself as infrastructure rather than just a tool for raising awareness.
The event saw an afternoon of sessions under the banner 'Solutions on Screen', attracting showrunners, athletes, ministers, and activists. The true stars of the week were not policy papers or investment portfolios, but on-screen characters and storylines, including docuseries, thrillers, extreme sport legends, and soap-opera narratives.
Climate Week 2025 demonstrated the potential of the people in driving climate action. With the entertainment industry regarding itself as infrastructure and recognizing the power of storytelling, the future of climate change communication looks set to be more engaging and impactful than ever.
