New York City is preparing for its largest-ever Climate Week, with more than 1,000 events scheduled across the city alongside the United Nations General Assembly. The scale marks a sharp increase from last year’s 900 events, reflecting surging interest from corporations, nonprofits, and philanthropies despite political headwinds in the United States.

Since its launch in 2009, Climate Week has grown into a key venue for companies, investors, and policymakers to network, announce initiatives, and align with global climate goals. This year’s expansion comes at a time when the U.S. federal government has shifted away from aggressive climate commitments, raising questions about national leadership but also fueling momentum from other sectors of the economy.

The gathering coincides with a U.N. “climate summit,” where world leaders are expected to unveil new climate pledges ahead of November’s COP30 in Brazil. While the United States and the European Union are unlikely to announce new commitments, countries such as China and Brazil are set to play a more visible role. Brazil, as COP30 host, will be under particular pressure to guide international negotiations toward stronger emissions targets.

In Europe, debates continue over how ambitious future commitments should be, even as the bloc projects a 54% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared with 1990 levels—nearly meeting its 55% target. Globally, more than half of the world’s largest companies have pledged to reach net-zero emissions by mid-century, though most have yet to align their spending with those promises.

Finance is expected to dominate discussions this year, with companies and governments under growing pressure to demonstrate how capital is being directed toward the energy transition. The spotlight will also fall on carbon removal technologies and renewable energy investments, both of which are seeing increased demand and corporate engagement.

Surveys show overwhelming public support for stronger international cooperation on climate action, with recent data from the Rockefeller Foundation finding that 86% of people worldwide view collaboration across borders as essential. As New York’s Climate Week unfolds, the challenge will be ensuring that the enthusiasm translates into concrete action, particularly with global negotiations entering a pivotal phase ahead of COP30.