Executives and advocates gathered at this year’s New York Climate Week to discuss AI-driven power demand, energy-market disruption and climate policy. The author argues that business concerns about energy and climate impacts sustain engagement despite US political headwinds.
Energy-market disruption tied to the war in Iran, backlash over data centers and higher power prices were prominent topics. JPMorgan’s head of climate advisory, Sarah Kapnick, said companies were connecting geopolitics with sustainability, climate and AI; discussions also addressed new energy technologies. The author says storms, heat waves and fires are causing economic damage firms can no longer ignore.
A European climate leader told the author that, although US participation remained strong, attendance by leaders from outside the country had fallen somewhat, particularly from Europe; many Europeans were focusing instead on London Climate Action Week and other events. The vocabulary also shifted: energy security, competitiveness and affordability displaced climate action, net zero and emissions. The author says people they spoke with were divided on whether this reframing helps or avoids the core problem.
