Resonance had the pleasure of attending and participating in this year's Climate Week, which took place in New York City. We joined thousands of climate leaders to discuss the systemic challenge of climate change and worked together to envision solutions for a sustainable future. Climate Week 2024 highlighted the critical intersection of climate action and business and for Resonance, the event reinforced the need to prioritize equitable, inclusive, and transformative solutions. Some of the core themes that emerged—adaptation and resilience, circularity, public-private collaboration, partnerships, decarbonization, and innovative climate finance—offered a clear framework for advancing sustainable development.
Some of the events Resonance supported throughout the week included Ambition Loop, Humanity Insured, EmpowerCO, a NY Times roundtable, and a C2ES session that promoted innovative climate action and finance mechanisms to drive change. Our team had the chance to engage with multinational corporations, NGOs, policymakers, farmers, and suppliers - creating an enriching week filled with diverse perspectives.
Peter Hall, Managing Director- Impact Advisory, speaking with Ambition Loop, during a NYCW event.
As climate impacts continue to intensify, the focus on adaptation and resilience was paramount, especially in regions that are most vulnerable to climate risks. For many countries in the Global South, adaptation is not just a strategy but an urgent necessity as climate shocks in a 1.5C world create devastation. Climate Week underscored that solutions must prioritize building resilient systems through partnerships that enable communities to withstand floods, droughts, rising sea levels, and other extreme weather events. At Resonance, we see this as a call to action: global development must align with climate resilience, ensuring that investments in infrastructure, agriculture, and public services are climate-proof. Key discussions at the event emphasized the importance of integrating traditional knowledge and skills with modern climate adaptation strategies, especially in coastal, rural and indigenous communities.
Circularity, as a pathway to sustainable resource management, took center stage during the week, highlighting resource scarcity and growing environmental pressures. The shift from linear economic models to circular economies offers a unique opportunity to replace outdated, extractive models of growth. Resonance’s work across sectors, particularly in waste management and sustainable agriculture, is grounded in the belief that circular systems can unlock new economic opportunities while protecting natural resources. Climate Week discussions highlighted the potential for circularity to support local economies by turning waste into value, promoting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and enhancing livelihoods, particularly for women and marginalized groups.
A critical message from Climate Week was the need for stronger public-private collaboration to achieve sustainable development goals. There is growing recognition that climate challenges—from renewable energy deployment to climate-resilient infrastructure—require the combined efforts of governments, the private sector, civil society, and international organizations. For over 20 years, Resonance has been involved in creating, managing, and implementing cross-sector partnerships that can bring innovation, expertise, and capital to underserved regions. Several sessions highlighted how strategic collaborations can drive development, with public policies creating enabling environments and the private sector offering technical solutions, financing, and scaling capabilities.
One of the most significant challenges discussed during Climate Week was the gap in climate finance needed to support developing countries in achieving their climate and development goals. Traditional development finance is inadequate to meet the scale of the climate crisis, especially in vulnerable regions. Innovative climate finance mechanisms—such as blended finance, green bonds, insurance and carbon pricing—were highlighted as critical tools to bridge this gap, while bringing co-benefits to other development challenges in policy and planning, institutions and workforce, and local infrastructure. Resonance recognizes that unlocking capital through innovative financial instruments can accelerate progress, particularly in the Global South, where funding is needed to support clean energy, sustainable agriculture, and resilient infrastructure. Climate finance must also prioritize social equity, ensuring that the most vulnerable populations, including women and youth, benefit from these investments.
Development in the Global South was at the heart of many conversations during Climate Week, with a focus on equity and climate justice. These regions are disproportionately affected by climate change, yet have historically contributed the least to global emissions. Discussions emphasized that international development must prioritize the needs of these countries, ensuring they receive the necessary financial, technological, and capacity-building support to achieve their climate goals. Resonance strongly believes that development solutions must be context-specific, respecting local cultures and knowledge systems, while also addressing systemic inequalities that exacerbate climate vulnerability. Empowering local communities and ensuring that climate finance reaches the most affected populations is key to advancing sustainable development in these regions.
Climate Week 2024 highlighted the profound link between climate action and international development, underscoring that sustainable, equitable progress is only possible when climate resilience and social equity are prioritized. For Resonance, this year’s event reinforced our commitment to supporting inclusive and climate-resilient development. The discussions reaffirmed that the road to sustainable development will require collaboration, innovation, and a focus on those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. As we look ahead, Resonance will continue to work with partners across sectors to design and implement solutions that promote climate resilience, economic opportunity, and social equity for all.