First Day Highlights from Climate Week NYC 2025
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Climate Week NYC 2025 kicked off yesterday with energy, creativity, and a strong sense of community. Our team on the ground had the chance to experience two powerful events that showed the diversity of approaches to climate action: one explored the future of food and farming through all five senses, while the other turned the streets of Queens into a vibrant stage for art, justice, and collective imagination.
Hope on a Plate: An Interactive Celebration of Regenerative Agriculture
On Sunday evening, The Greene Space in downtown Manhattan was transformed into a living laboratory of flavor, culture, and sustainability. “Hope on a Plate”, presented by Food Tank in partnership with Lundberg Family Farms, was completely sold out — proof of how much interest there is in food as a climate solution.
The evening featured:
- A chef-curated meal designed to immerse participants in the principles of regenerative agriculture.
- Immersive storytelling that connected farming, soil health, and culture to the fight against climate change.
- Live performances, including Brian Russell Carey accompanied by Jacob Yates, creating a multisensory atmosphere.
The program was guided by some of the most inspiring voices in the food and sustainability world. Among the speakers and chefs were Dan Barber, renowned for his advocacy on sustainable seeds; J.J. Johnson, chef and author exploring the African diaspora’s food heritage; Marcela Valladolid, bringing stories of tradition and resilience; and Jason Buechel from Whole Foods Market, alongside representatives from Patagonia Provisions and Lundberg Family Farms.
Rather than being just another panel discussion, the event invited participants to taste, listen, and feel how regenerative practices can become scalable, tangible solutions to the climate crisis. Food became both metaphor and proof of what’s possible when agriculture is reimagined.
Street Works Earth: Art, Justice & Shared Futures in Queens
Earlier in the day, the streets of Jackson Heights, Queens, were filled with color, music, and dialogue during the Street Works Earth festival. Now in its second year, the event — organized by Street Works and Make Justice Normal, with support from dozens of groups — drew together more than 100 artists, climate experts, community organizations, and residents to co-create art and action for climate justice.
From 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., public space became an outdoor gallery and a community hub. Last year, more than 3,000 people attended; this year, participation was expected to match or surpass that number.
Highlights included:
- Hands-on art-making sessions where neighbors and artists collaborated on murals, installations, and performance pieces.
- Creative collaborations like Thread Lightly, exploring the intersection of fashion, culture, and environmental impact; and Kindred Roots, which highlighted practices of care and mental health within communities.
- Future@Work Career Fair, a new component of the festival, designed for youth and adults curious about jobs in environmental justice and climate work. Between 12:00 and 2:00 p.m., attendees explored what it means to build a career in sustainability and justice — a reminder that climate action is not just protest and policy, but also the way we shape our livelihoods.
What made Street Works unique was its spirit of joyful resistance and collaboration. Rather than treating art as a separate form of expression, the festival framed creativity as a tool for shared power, civic life, and resilience.
Reflections & Takeaways
The first day of Climate Week NYC 2025 showcased two truths that complement each other:
- Regeneration is culture. Hope on a Plate demonstrated that food is not only nutrition but also identity, politics, and future. Regenerative agriculture is being reframed as urgent, accessible, and deeply human.
- Justice is collective. Street Works Earth reminded us that art and community are inseparable from climate solutions. By grounding activism in neighborhoods like Jackson Heights, the movement becomes more inclusive, joyful, and resilient.
- The road ahead requires both imagination and action. These events lit up what’s possible — from seed to street — but also underscored the challenge of scaling solutions across policies, supply chains, and social systems.
In short: Climate Week NYC opened not just with speeches, but with food that told stories, and streets that turned into canvases of justice. It was a day that blended inspiration with concrete action, leaving us hopeful — and hungry — for what’s still to come this week.