UArctic goes to Climate Week NYC, 2025
UArctic recently participated in Climate Week NYC. Read more about our involvement in an Explorer's Club event, a Harvard Belfer Center event, and an event with Dartmouth College and the Consulate General of Finland, NY.
Kicking off Climate Week NYC, September 21, 2025, UArctic hosted an event at The Explorer’s Club with leaders from the Seabed Anchorage Curtain project—a research initiative from UArctic’s Thematic Network on Frozen Arctic Conservation.
In a panel discussion hosted by Caitlin Saks, Senior Producer of PBS NOVA, Seabed Curtain Co-leads, John Moore and Marianne Hagen, were joined by David Holland from New York University to discuss the importance of glacial preservation and the role of Seabed Anchored Curtains, a new technology being researched to slow the melt of at-risk glaciers and ice sheets.
Caitlin Saks, Marianne Hagen, David Holland, and John Moore speaking at the Explorer’s Club.
Image courtesy of Revisual Productions @kontentmint.
The following day, the Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center hosted Beyond the Ice, featuring discussions on climate solutions in the Arctic and beyond.
The panel was opened by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, with Dr. John Holdren, Co-Director of the science, Technology, and Public Policy Program at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs; Dr. Sue Natali, Senior Scientist and Arctic Ecologist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center; Edward Alexander, Senior Arctic Lead of the Permafrost Pathways Initiative at the Woodwell Climate Research Center; and Charitie Ropati, North America Regional Facilitator of the Youth Climate Justice Fund as speakers.
The discussion spotlighted solutions from both Indigenous and science perspectives with a goal of finding ways to collaborate towards practical and actionable pathways for resilient Arctic communities. Lars Kullerud, UArctic President, was invited to lead a breakout session discussion group after the panel of speakers.
Following Beyond the Ice, Dartmouth, The Consulate General of Finland, NY, and UArctic hosted Arctic Awakens at the Cornell Club—a two-panel event dedicated to discussing innovation in the Arctic and what equitable action could look like with Indigenous, economic, and business perspectives and input.
The first panel was moderated by Dartmouth’s Melody Brown Burkins, the UArctic Chair in Science Diplomacy and Inclusion (Mimir). The panelists included Charitie Ropati; Kristo Lehtonen, Director of International Programmes at the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra; and Aviaaja Karlshøj Knudsen, CEO of NunaGreen. The conversation was focused towards on-the-ground examples of innovation, such as the Youth Climate Fund and the IC3 Polar Research Centre at the University of Tromsø’s “Glacier Flour” research, as well as the difficulties in funding and supporting Arctic endeavors.
Aviaaja Karlshøj Knudsen, Kristo Lehtonen, and Charitie Ropati speaking at
The Arctic Awakens Event at the Cornell Club. Photo courtesy of Laura Ditto.
The second panel, focused on mechanisms for sustainable finance and investments, was moderated by Hannah Payson, Executive Director of the Center for business, Government and Society, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. Payson was joined by Mads Qvist Fredericksen, Executive Director, Arctic Economic Council; Juhani Sirén, Director, Head of North America, Business Finland; and Alana Peterson, Executive Director, Spruceroot. Together, they talked on grant-making, sustainable support & partnerships, and effective collaboration units for climate action.
Climate Week NYC is an annual, city-wide network of events that provide a space for education, collaboration, and innovation from all levels and backgrounds. It ran from September 21 – 28 and provides one of the largest climate gatherings outside of COP. This year’s theme, Power On, put a spotlight on innovation and solutions in clean energy, climate finance, new technology, sustainable careers, and climate justice.
Written by Laura Ditto, UArctic Foundation (US) Writer