Doing The Unthinkable At New York Climate Week: Pausing.

New York Climate Week

I have done my fair share of the international summit spaces, from COPS to conferences. But New York Climate Week was new to me. New York - the city that never sleeps - can be hectic in general, but colleagues had warned me that New York Climate Week carries an energy that requires ‘at least two weeks off afterwards’. A verbatim quote.

Moving from roundtables to meetings with people in our Resilience Project network to speaking in a panel on the future of youth mental health, I thrived in the fast-paced environment, energised by the conversations I was feeding into. But I’ve had years of practice. My reaction could easily have been the opposite, a feeling many other young climate leaders felt during this week…

Every year in late September, climate-concerned parties (NGOs, philanthropists, youth organisations and activists) congregate around the UN General Assembly. Like COPs, NYCW is notoriously intense: 12-hour days at 1,000 km/h. Amazing event after amazing event, fascinating conversation after fascinating conversation. It’s a space for possibility, change, collaboration.

Young people are everywhere at NYCW, mostly sleeping on sofas. But their presence has dwindled over the years. Why? Because they’re generally undervalued, underpaid, under-fed, overworked. NYCW doesn’t encourage the kind of rest crucial to dealing with an existential threat with no clear end in sight. It doesn’t come with pre-set boundaries or a manual for navigation if you’re young.

Being a young changemaker in the climate movement, you are often the only one in the room. Imagine this, but if you’re the only person in sight representing your country, or the only one who speaks your native language. The pressure on youth is not created equally. There are a myriad of additional challenges, stresses, and barriers to BIPOC campaigners and those not from the Global West. I remember Jennifer Uchendu, CEO of Nigerian organisation Susty Vibes, speaking candidly about being a black woman from Nigeria at COP pushing her into burnout.

Dinner and Decompression

To combat feelings of burnout and imposter syndrome in the climate movement, it was our intention to make a space where young people could turn up exactly as they are: energised or broken. Not another space where they have to prove themselves as an ‘mini-adult’ or ‘mini-politician’. Not another space with $1,000 suits and impressive titles. Not another space where they would be weighed and valued by their work.

We settled on a model we’ve called Dinner and Decompression — the power of food and rest combined.

Food is not just important to keep energy high. Sometimes looking directly at the problem of climate change can be too confronting, but passive activities like eating can make difficult conversations easier. Starting with food rather than starting with climate means starting with connection, nourishment, replenishment, energy, and joy.

Food is also a connection to the planet we are working so hard to save. Considering our dinner plates and all the hands that worked to make a meal possible can not only deepen our gratitude (an essential balance to work which is often harrowing or heartbreaking) but can offer insight into the interconnectedness of global systems.

"Starting with food rather than starting with climate means starting with connection, nourishment, replenishment, energy, and joy."

Working in Partnership

As with our meals, Dinner and Decompression was formed by many hands, including in partnership with our long-time cheerleaders and dear friends at Force of Nature.

Capitalism often encourages organisations that do similar work to think as competitors rather than as collaborators. But we’re all on the same side and we’re all people that care. Collaborating on this was a small token of resistance to cultures of competition and scarcity.

Our other official partner was LUSH, which is an ethical cosmetics organisation of great people doing great things. Their support allowed us to gift participants with LUSH self-care products, extending the impact of the event from the restaurant to individual’s home routines.

The legendary Janine from Force of Nature also arranged a musician, playing piano to compost our conversations, and a breath technician who facilitated a sound bath. And so I found myself, eye masks-on, in a basement in New York with 50 others, changing the world with our eyes closed, bathing in sound. It was a real pinch-me moment.

We were also supported by our lovely friends Earth Minutes, who took amazing photos. And then there was the incredible Rethink Food — a fantastic organisation in New York who are focused on justice and sustainability, and who served us with healthy, delicious, vegan food.

Making a “Safe Space”

There’s always more that can be done to make an event inclusive, but in planning this one we were especially conscious that ‘youth’ is not a homogenous demographic.

NYCW is especially challenging for changemakers who don’t speak English as their first language, for BIPOC changemakers, changemakers with disabilities, and others with protected characteristics.

That’s why the first thing we did when organising this event was consult our Board of Youth, an international group of climate changemakers with a wide variety of lived experiences.

In the end, we decided to prioritise access for BIPOC changemakers as well as those under 25 who are likely to be on a lower income. We also made sure that the event was wheelchair accessible, and ear-marked funding to support access for changemakers with disabilities. Force of Nature also suggested an air purifier, so that the event could be more COVID secure.

The Impact

Young people at the event told us it was the best thing they’d been to all week. Many commented that they really didn’t realise how much they needed it. It has given us a real momentum to make sure there are other events like this in other intense climate spaces.

Why this was important

Much of the best of NYCW is driven by the tenacity and energy of youth. This energy is a precious resource, and one that is rapidly running out. Over the years, less and less youth are engaging with these kinds of international climate events.

A lot of young people question whether to go to NYCW. The decision to fly can weigh heavily. Personally, I’m so pleased I went — for the inspiration I achieved, the people I met, and the collaborations that are coming out of it. Sure, there is a lot of greenwash and ‘hot air’ at these events, but that’s why it's vital to have young people there to cut through the nonsense. To raise ambition. To push the needle.

Going forward, we’d love to inspire our participants and communities to host similar spaces at these big changemaker events. We are personally committing, in partnership with LUSH, to host more of these spaces. After all, all you really need is a group of young people who set a boundary together to take time for themselves. That is the bare minimum.