Climate Week NYC ‘26
Our 2026 Carbon Newbie Summit featured speakers from London Stock Exchange, Mubadala, Trane Technologies, Columbia University, the University of Toronto and more.
A packed room of curious attendees joined us to explore everything from food and whale economics to El Niño, insurance and supply chains—with plenty of fun along the way!
Co-hosts:
Co-Hosts
Watch the Replay
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Welcome From Master of Ceremonies
Steve Siger with CNaught
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Founder Opening Remarks
Michelle Li with Clever Carbon and Carbon Newbie Summit
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Show Me the Money: Making the Value of Living Nature Visible
Ralph Chami with Blue Green Futures, Tola St. Matthew-Daniels with Kairos and Tola, Inc. (Moderator)
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The Ocean’s Carbon Movers: How Krill and Fish Help Regulate Our Climate
Grace Saba with Rutgers University
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El Niño 101: How a Warming Pacific Disrupts Weather Around the World
Jeffrey Shaman with the Columbia Climate School
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Risk, Resilience & Reinvention: How Insurance Is Adapting to Climate Change
Emmy Swift with American Family Insurance, Jing Liao with Solera, Adriel Lubarsky with Beehive (Moderator)
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From Data to Dinner: How Food and Pop Culture Can Inspire Change
Priyanka Naik, Michelle Li with Clever Carbon (Moderator)
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Tiny Plastics, Real Effects? Exploring the Impact on Health and Behavior
Cuizhu Chloe Ma with Columbia University
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From Raw Materials to Reality: Understanding Supply Chain Impact
Al Iannuzzi with Iannuzzi Sustainability Solutions, Catarina Carvalho with Arup, James George with Provocative Human Ltd. (Moderator)
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Science behind the Switch: Heat Pumps 101
Rachael Weisman with Trane Commercial
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Smarter Buildings, Smarter Supply Chains: AI’s Decarbonization Potential
Catherine Stephanou with BrainBox AI, Michelle Li with Clever Carbon (Moderator)
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Responsible Investing at Scale: Lessons in Value Creation for Sustainability
Jacobo Calderon with Mubadala, Michelle Li with Clever Carbon (Moderator)
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Climate Research in Action: Inside the Lawson Climate Institute
Ethan Agena and Riya Osti with the University of Toronto Lawson Climate Institute
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Unlocking Dometic Nickel: Cleaner Pathways to Critical Minerals
Mansoor Barati with the University of Toronto
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From Footprint to Purchase: A Carbon Credit Buyer’s Journey
Koray Aysin with Perkins Eastman, Steve Siger with CNaught
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From Heat to Grid: How Geothermal Energy Works
Terra Rogers with Clean Air Task Force
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From Capital to Climate Action: The Power of Financial Markets
Claire Dorrian with the London Stock Exchange Group, Ulysses Smith with Debevoise & Plimpton (Moderator)
Speakers
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Priyanka Naik
Chef, Author, Creator, TV Personality
Chef Priyanka/The Spicy Mango Foodies, LLC. -
Ralph Chami
Co-Founder and CEO
Blue Green Future, LLC -
Jacobo Calderon
Director Responsible Investing
Mubadala Investment Company -
Claire Dorrian
Head of Sustainable Finance
London Stock Exchange Group -
Jing Liao
Chairwoman, Solera Foundation and Chief Administration Officer, Solera
Solera -
Catherine Stephanou
AI Ethics & Responsible Innovation Leader
BrainBox AI -
Emmy Swift
Director of Sustainable Business Framework and Partnerships
American Family Insurance -
Al Iannuzzi
President
Iannuzzi Sustainability Solutions -
Catarina Carvalho
Adjunct Professor
Columbia University -
Ulysses Smith
ESG Senior Advisor
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP -
Koray Aysin
Leader of Corporate Sustainability
Perkins Eastman -
Steve Siger
Cofounder & COO
CNaught -
James George
Founder and CEO
Provocative Human Ltd. -
Tola St. Matthew-Daniel
Founder and CEO
Kairos and Tola, Inc. -
Grace Saba
Associate Professor
Rutgers University -
Jeffrey Shaman
Professor and Senior Vice Dean
Columbia Climate School -
Mansoor Barati
Professor, and Director of Center of Metallurgical Processing and Sustainability
University of Toronto -
Michelle Li
Founder
Clever Carbon, Carbon Newbie Summit -
Cuizhu Chloe Ma
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Columbia University -
Terra Rogers
Director, Superhot Rock Geothermal Energy
Clean Air Task Force -
Rachael Weisman
Systems Account Manager and Client Services Team Leader
Trane Commercial -
Riya Osti
Dual Degree Masters Program, MPP (Munk School), MIA (Columbia University)
University of Toronto and Columbia University -
Ethan Agena
PhD Candidate; Founder
University of Toronto; SymBL Innovations Inc.
Summit Program
🚪 8:45 am EST | Doors Open and Breakfast
🌟 9:15 am - 10:00 am | PART 1
🎤 MC Opening Remarks
Steve Siger with CNaught
🎤 Founder Remarks
Michelle Li with Clever Carbon and Carbon Newbie Summit
🎤 Show Me the Money: Making the Value of Living Nature Visible | Fireside Chat
Ralph Chami with Blue Green Futures, Tola St. Matthew-Daniels with Kairos and Tola, Inc. (Moderator)
🎤 The Ocean’s Carbon Movers: How Krill and Fish Help Regulate Our Climate | Presentation
Grace Saba with Rutgers University
🎤 El Niño 101: How a Warming Pacific Disrupts Weather Around the World | Presentation
Jeffrey Shaman with the Columbia Climate School
🎤 Risk, Resilience & Reinvention: How Insurance Is Adapting to Climate Change | Panel
Emmy Swift with American Family Insurance, Jing Liao with Solera, Adriel Lubarsky with Beehive (Moderator)
☕️ 10:00 am - 10:15 am | Coffee Break
⭐️ 10:15 am - 11:10 am | Part 2
🎤 From Data to Dinner: How Food and Pop Culture Can Inspire Change | Fireside Chat
Priyanka Naik, Michelle Li with Clever Carbon (Moderator)
🎤 Tiny Plastics, Real Effects? Exploring the Impact on Health and Behavior | Presentation
Cuizhu Chloe Ma with Columbia University
🎤 From Raw Materials to Reality: Understanding Supply Chain Impact
Al Iannuzzi with Iannuzzi Sustainability Solutions, Catarina Carvalho with Arup, James George with Provocative Human Ltd. (Moderator)
🎤 Science behind the Switch: Heat Pumps 101 | Presentation
Rachael Weisman with Trane Commercial
🎤 Smarter Buildings, Smarter Supply Chains: AI’s Decarbonization Potential | Fireside Chat
Catherine Stephanou with BrainBox AI, Michelle Li with Clever Carbon (Moderator)
🍩 11:10 am - 11:25 am | Coffee Break
⭐️ 11:25 am - 12:15 pm | Part 3
🎤 Responsible Investing at Scale: Lessons in Value Creation for Sustainability | Fireside Chat
Jacobo Calderon with Mubadala, Michelle Li with Clever Carbon (Moderator)
🎤 Climate Research in Action: Inside the Lawson Climate Institute | Presentation
Ethan Agena and Riya Osti with the University of Toronto Lawson Climate Institute
🎤 Unlocking Dometic Nickel: Cleaner Pathways to Critical Minerals | Presentation
Mansoor Barati with the University of Toronto
🎤 How Peers Can Move an Industry: Collective Action and the Business Case for Carbon Credits | Fireside Chat
Koray Aysin with Perkins Eastman, Steve Siger with CNaught
🎤 From Heat to Grid: How Geothermal Energy Works | Presentation
Terra Rogers with Clean Air Task Force
🎤 From Capital to Climate Action: The Power of Financial Markets | Fireside Chat
Claire Dorrian with the London Stock Exchange Group, Ulysses Smith with Debevoise & Plimpton (Moderator)
🥂 12:15 pm - 1:00 pm | Lunch
Apply to Speak
Have something to share with carbon newbies? From climate science to individual actions and corporate applications, we’re always looking for engaging speakers for our newbies!
Know an organization that would like to co-host? They can reach us through our Contact page!