Climate Week NYC is coming.

From September 22-29, tens of thousands of people – in business, government, civil society and grassroots activism – will gather in New York City for more than 600 events around the theme of climate action. One topic that won’t be far from everyone’s minds this year: localizing climate solutions.

There’s no shortage of aid agencies, foundations and investors that have publicly committed to bridging the lived experience gap. But real barriers to shifting power and resources persist, and critical community-led work remains unfunded.

Here are some events to know about if you’re interested in these conversations, kicking off with Proximate’s very own happy hour Sunday night.

Sunday, September 22

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6:00 - 8:00 pm – Localizing Climate Funding: A Climate Week Happy Hour (Midtown TBD)

As we enter these next few critical years, donors and investors want to move dollars to effective, local solutions – fast. But that's hard when they lack proximity to the communities they fund – and it leads to funding that is less informed, less creative and ultimately less effective.

Join Proximate, Alianza Socioambiental Fondos del Sur, Casa Socio-Environmental Fund, Youth Climate Justice Fund and friends for a happy hour to meet like-minded people in philanthropy, development, grassroots action, and civil society to discuss this question over drinks and networking.

RSVP here → LINK

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Monday, September 23

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8:00 - 10:00 am – From Commitment to Action: Enabling Direct Funding for Indigenous Peoples in Multilateral Climate and Biodiversity Initiatives (Ford Foundation)

Indigenous-led funds and multilateral donors will discuss the challenges in getting climate funds into the hands of frontline communities – and possible ways forward.

Hosted by the International Land and Forest Tenure Facility, Land Portal and Ford Foundation. This is a hybrid event, so you can also join virtually.

RSVP here → LINK

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3:00 - 5:00 pm – Shandia Forum, hosted by the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities

The Global Alliance of Territorial Communities is a collective working for a world” where indigenous peoples and local communities are recognized in all countries as essential actors in the fight against climate change.

The Alliance is gathering for several events during Climate Week, to build momentum for policies and pledges to protect Indigenous rights and territories. Join Monday afternoon and all day Tuesday for a series of panels featuring government and philanthropic leaders, as well as sessions showcasing on-the-ground work.

RSVP here → LINK‍

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4:45 – 7:15 pm – From Commitment to Action: Global and Local Philanthropy for Locally-Led Development (The Penn Club)

There’s a lot of talk about locally-led development, but action has been slower. Several organizations – WINGS, Alianza Socioambiental Fondos del Sur, Giving Tuesday and the Global Fund for Community Foundations, are teaming up to discuss how to ensure that grassroots movements can get access to sustainable resourcing.

Check out this event to learn about new research on the global and local giving ecosystem for social movements. Speakers come from the world of aid and philanthropy: Nancy Lindborg from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation; Sara Aviel from the Inter-American Foundation, and Degan Ali from Adeso.

RSVP here → LINK

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‍5:00 – 7:30 pm – The Rise and Impact of Youth-Led Funds (Ford Foundation)

The Youth Climate Justice Fund is a new, participatory foundation launched last year by a collective of young movement leaders from several continents. It’s led by, and funds, young grassroots leaders.

This panel and reception, hosted in partnership with the Ford Foundation, will explore the potential of youth-led intermediary funds like YCJF – how they’re using inclusive and agile participatory funding mechanisms, and supporting overlooked solutions around the world. Speakers include leaders from the Ford Foundation and FRIDA, as well as former President of Ireland Mary Robinson.

RSVP here → LINK

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Tuesday, September 24

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‍8:30 am - 5:00 pm – Shandia Forum, hosted by the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities

The Global Alliance of Territorial Communities is a collective working for a world” where indigenous peoples and local communities are recognized in all countries as essential actors in the fight against climate change.

The Alliance is gathering for several events during Climate Week, to build momentum for policies and pledges to protect Indigenous rights and territories. Join Monday afternoon and all day Tuesday for a series of panels featuring government and philanthropic leaders, as well as sessions showcasing on-the-ground work.

RSVP here → LINK

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‍4:30 - 7:00 pm – Force of Water: NY Climate Week Premiere (Village East by Angelika)

Green Empowerment, Operation Water and African Leadership Academy are hosting the premiere of a one-hour documentary that follows two communities – one in Ecuador and one in Uganda – as they embark on the task of constructing their own water systems in the face of a global water crisis.

The film will be followed by a panel that dives into the role of local leadership in infrastructure solutions across Africa.

RSVP here → LINK

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Wednesday, September 25

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9:00 am - 5:00 pm – Path To Scale Meeting at New York Climate Week (Good Funding Hub)

Path to Scale is an informal network of donors, financial mechanisms, and their intermediaries aiming to scale-up climate funding. In November 2021, at CoP26, they mobilized $1.7 billion in climate funding commitments toward Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

This event is a collaboration between Maliasili, Synchronicity Earth, and RRI. If you’d like to participate, it’s recommended that you register sooner rather than later.

Register here → LINK

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12:30 - 1:30 pm – Championing African Local Conservation: Unlocking Climate Finance for Community-Led Solutions (Javits Center)

The African Nature-Based Tourism Platform and World Wildlife Fund are partnering on a panel to highlight community-led conservation on the African continent.

They write: “Local organizations are at the heart of community-led conservation efforts… Despite their vital role in climate adaptation, they are often marginalized in climate finance discussions. This panel will spotlight these unsung climate and conservation heroes and explore innovative strategies to channel more funding to their initiatives.”

RSVP here → LINK

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Thursday, September 26

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‍8:30 – 10:30 am – How Philanthropy Can Lead the Way to Locally-Led Development: A Global South Roadmap (Ford Foundation)

Several organizations, including Alianza Socioambiental Fondos del Sur, Adeso, NEAR, WINGS, Common Reserve and African Philanthropy Forum, this event will delve into how philanthropic funds can break down barriers and advance locally-led development across the Global South. The discussion will feature leaders from Global Majority and philanthropic and international development experts. Speakers will include Maria Amália Souza from Casa Socio-Environmental Fund.

RSVP here → Link

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‍2:00 – 4:00 – Mobilizing Finance and Science: Nature-Based Climate Solutions for the Brazilian Amazon (J.M. Kaplan Fund)

The J.M. Kaplan Fund is hosting a “collaborative discussion” between Woodwell Climate Research Center and ECCON that will focus on proposed solutions to bring conservation and finance together, at scale. 

Woodwell Climate scientists, alongside panelists from Brazil's leading agricultural sectors, will outline the challenges posed by climate change to crop productivity and biomass in tropical forests.

RSVP here → LINK

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Did we miss anything? Reach out at ben@proximate.press to let me know!