LAUREN GILGER: “Anthropocene” is a big idea. It’s a contested term in the scientific world, a proposed geological epoch that’s defined by our own human activity on the planet. And it’s the title of our next guest’s latest project, a decadeslong endeavor that tackles consumption, climate change and human progress. Rachel Bowditch is the performance’s project director and co-vision keeper alongside Karen Jean Martinson. She calls the show physical theater rather than dance. And it’s headed to Paris this week, where they’ll perform it at UNESCO’s MOST Climate Summit. I spoke with Bowditch more about the project, and she told me the road to creating this show has been long and winding. RACHEL BOWDITCH: I was living in New York City, and I went to see an exhibit at the Historic Society. And there was a little installation of a New York coffee cup with a bagel, and next to it was all of the things that it took to make the bagel, to do the coffee, from the fuel, to the water, all the things that everyday New Yorkers took for granted, sort of the DNA of consumption. And I remember thinking, “I want to make a piece about...

The summit placed adaptation, clean electrification and a just fossil fuel transition at the centre of global climate talks ahead of COP31. UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s Climate Summit on Wednesday brought together government leaders, development banks, businesses and civil society for talks focused on accelerating climate action, mobilising finance for developing countries and strengthening adaptation as the world enters an era of climate overshoot. The summit centred on three priorities: keeping 1.5°C within reach, mobilising finance for developing countries and advancing adaptation in an era of climate overshoot, when global temperatures temporarily rise above 1.5°C. Just ahead of the summit, Germany announced that it had adopted a national roadmap to phase out fossil fuels by 2045. Ani Dasgupta, president and CEO of the World Resources Institute, said the summit had delivered a clear warning to world leaders. “Secretary-General Guterres’s speech was a blunt reality check that world leaders must take to heart. The devastating floods, blistering heatwaves and wildfires of recent months are not isolated tragedies, they are a warning of the far greater disasters that lie ahead,” Dasgupta said in a statement. “Entering an era of climate overshoot means our global response needs to shift into overdrive. Countries must...

Fresh from accusing fossil fuel interests of treating the atmosphere like an "open sewer," outgoing UN chief Antonio Guterres is set to host his final climate summit

COP31 is the UN’s 31st annual climate summit. It will bring together thousands of policymakers, negotiators, climate activists, civil society groups, business decision-makers and other attendees for two weeks in Antalya, Türkiye. UN Climate COPs are a highlight in the calendar for anyone working in – or passionate about – sustainability and climate action. They have taken place almost every year since 1994, with COP31 marking the 31st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). COPs serve as a forum for governments to negotiate and update international agreements and decisions on cutting emissions, adapting to climate impacts and mobilising climate finance. COP31 will also include the eighth meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 8), as countries commence the second Global Stocktake and continue efforts to translate the Paris Agreement into practical action. COPs also act as a major site of announcements and collaborations between businesses, cities, regions, NGOs and all manner of other organisations, with the private sector playing an increasingly prominent role in discussions around implementation and investment. COP31 is due to start on Monday 9 November 2026 and conclude on Friday 20 November 2026, with...

The Kushtia forum urged stronger youth involvement in climate policy, water conservation and climate-resilient agriculture, with speakers highlighting links to food security, health and livelihoods. Young people, students, teachers, researchers, climate activists and others gathered in Kushtia for the Youth Climate Summit 3.0, focusing on climate change, water security, agriculture, environmental protection and the role of youth in climate action. The Kushtia Youth Climate Summit 3.0 was held under the theme “Youth for Water and Agriculture”. It was organised by SEECTO Bangladesh and Renew Earth, two organisations working on environment and climate change, with support from C3ER, SETU and Mutual Trust Bank PLC. Participants discussed the impacts of climate change, current challenges in the water and agriculture sectors and the role young people can play in addressing those crises. A key part of the summit was a panel discussion on youth participation in tackling climate change, climate justice, the future of water and agriculture and youth leadership in climate action. The panel featured two young climate activists: Sohanur Rahman of YouthNet Global and Farzana Faruk Jumu, a member of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. Speakers at the panel said meaningful participation by young people was...

CSE presents product circularity as a strategic advantage, highlighting measurable performance, ratings and assurance at the Amsterdam summit. AMSTERDAM, NORTH HOLLAND (NOORD-HOLLAND), NETHERLANDS, July 20, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Center for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) participated in the 3rd Annual World ESG & Climate Summit 2026, held in Amsterdam on May 27–28, 2026. CSE was represented by its President, Nikos Avlonas, who delivered a presentation titled “Product Circularity as a Strategic Advantage: Ratings and Assurance.” The summit brought together senior ESG, climate, finance, and sustainability leaders from prominent international organizations, including Siemens, DHL Supply Chain, Lloyd’s Register, ING Group, Merck Group, Evonik Industries, Vattenfall, Crédit Agricole CIB, BNP Paribas Netherlands, NatWest, Arup, Mitsubishi Chemical Europe, Metsä Group, and the European Environment Agency. CSE’s contribution focused on the growing need for companies to demonstrate that sustainability is embedded not only in their corporate strategies, but also in the products they design, assess, manufacture, and bring to market. As ESG expectations continue to evolve, businesses are moving beyond broad sustainability commitments toward measurable product-level performance, independently verified results, and assurance-backed credibility. During his presentation, Nikos Avlonas positioned product circularity as a strategic business advantage. He emphasized the importance of integrating both product...

“This year, the global climate summit, COP31, will be held in one of the most important countries for BBVA—Türkiye—and specifically in the city of Antalya. For years, the COPs have defined the global climate framework. Now a new stage is beginning: implementation. And in it, BBVA and the financial sector have a decisive role to play in turning ambition into action and impact,” said BBVA CEO Onur Genç. “We are proud to support the United Nations and the COP31 Presidency as the Global Banking Partner. We will bring our capabilities, our client relationships and our experience in developed and emerging markets to help advance their priorities. I would like to invite companies, institutions, public-sector players and civil society to join us at this event,” he said. COP31 President and Türkiye’s Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, said: "At the COP31 Summit, which we will host in Antalya this year, we will join forces with all stakeholders to demonstrate Türkiye’s determination to take climate action by bringing together the strengths of the public and private sectors. As part of this effort, we have taken an important step together with our banking sector. Garanti BBVA and the BBVA Group...

Representatives from California, Fiji, Guam, Hawaiʻi, Kiribati, Vanuatu and Weno gathered earlier this month for an inaugural Pacific Climate Summit to discuss climate challenges, advance implementation of climate mitigation efforts and strengthen collaboration around the Asia-Pacific region. “Climate change does not recognize borders and the challenges we face in Hawaiʻi are shared by our neighbors across the Pacific,” said Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources Acting Chairperson Ryan Kanakaʻole in a department release. “By standing together with our regional partners, we are pooling our collective knowledge, indigenous ecological wisdom and resources to protect our vulnerable coastlines, watersheds and communities from ridge to reef.” Participants issued a joint statement affirming their shared intent to strengthen climate adaptation and resilience in the Pacific through deeper regional cooperation. The statement reads: “Across the Pacific, rising temperatures are driving more frequent and severe climate impacts, exposing communities to mounting climate-related hazards at great cost to households, communities, businesses and public budgets. “The jurisdictions recognize that strengthening regional adaptive capacity and resilience is vital to ensuring that the diverse communities, natural ecosystems and built economies of the Pacific can continue to thrive despite the escalating challenges, shocks and stresses of climate change and other...

What is COP? COP, or the Conference of the Parties, is the main decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This conference takes place annually and is a critical opportunity to assess the world’s progress on the climate crisis, find solutions and hold states accountable for their commitments to climate action. It brings together delegates from the nearly 200 member countries of the UNFCCC, as well as scientists, activists, journalists, and civil society organisations like Amnesty International. The first COP was held in 1995 and was hosted in Germany. This year’s COP31 will be hosted in Türkiye, with Australia taking on the role of President of COP Negotiations with a pre-COP meeting in the Pacific. For years, the Pacific has borne the full brunt of the climate crisis. That’s why COP31 marks a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Pacific Nations and Australia to lead the global shift to net zero, to phase out fossil fuel production, extraction, and exports, and help ensure that those most affected by climate change can shape the global response to the climate crisis. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) The UNFCCC is an agreement between 198 Parties (197 States and...

Indigenous land protector, fashion model and filmmaker Quannah ChasingHorse used her platform at the seventh annual Hollywood Climate Summit to sound the alarm over proposed oil and gas lease sales in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, calling for immediate action to protect sacred lands and support Indigenous communities leading the fight against climate change. The summit, held June 3 at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Samuel Goldwyn Theater, brought together entertainment and media professionals, storytellers, executives, artists, scientists and advocates to explore how storytelling can shape public understanding of the climate crisis. During the inaugural Hollywood Climate Summit Leadership Recognition Ceremony, ChasingHorse received the Amplifier Award and used her acceptance remarks to focus attention on the Arctic Refuge and the communities that call it home. “We talk and we talk and we talk, but right now is the time for action,” ChasingHorse said. “It’s not just my people that are being directly impacted — it’s everybody, because everybody’s future is at stake.” Her comments highlighted concerns over upcoming lease sales on lands considered sacred by Indigenous peoples in Alaska and underscored the role Native communities play on the front lines of climate advocacy and environmental stewardship. ChasingHorse...

Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen has set up an “office of the presidency” in his department after being appointed next year’s COP president of negotiations. The Coalition has claimed the government will spend more than $200 million related to Australia's role at the summit. Mr Bowen was handed the position at the Conference of the Parties (COP) to be hosted by Turkey after Australia lost out on hosting the climate conference, which could have cost as much as $2 billion. A Department of Climate Change and Energy organisational chart, published on May 1, shows the newly created “office of the presidency” under the “International and Climate Negotiations” division. Shadow energy minister Dan Tehan said it was not known how many staff there would be in the office or what it would cost. However, Australia's overall COP 31 commitments over the next three years will cost more than $200 million. According to the 2026-27 budget, the government will spend $50 million on "delivering on Australia's COP 31 agenda". The $50 million over two years will "enable Australia to effectively deliver under its role as President of Negotiations", according to the budget papers. The government will also spend $79 million for "extending...

A 24‑hour global gathering on climate action, tech innovation and human rights. The Right Here, Right Now Global Youth Climate Summit brings together young people, educators and innovators from across the world to explore how emerging technologies can drive climate resilience while protecting human rights. Hosted in partnership with Right Here, Right Now and UN Human Rights, and co-hosted by the University of Colorado Boulder along with other universities around the world, we aim to create a space for bold ideas, constructive debate and collaborative learning at the intersection of sustainability, technology and social justice. Designed for a global audience, the summit showcases leadership of people who are shaping climate solutions in their communities and beyond. It also highlights how education and technology can strengthen climate literacy, support informed decision making and empower the next generation to lead with purpose. What to expect Over 24 hours, the summit will run a rolling programme of online webinars from midnight to midnight. Participants can join live sessions at any time as it moves across global regions and time zones, and watch sessions afterwards on demand: Live discussions and Q&As on climate innovation, AI and human rights Youth‑led sessions sharing climate solutions and...

While some major fossil fuel producers keep pushing for expanded oil and gas use, which is linked to warfare, economic shocks and ecological damage, more than 50 countries at the first Conference on Transitioning Away From Fossil Fuels began developing plans to shift toward renewable energy systems designed for stability and abundance rather than scarcity and conflict. At the end of the conference, France, where fossil fuels still power about 60 percent of the world’s seventh-largest economy, unveiled a pilot roadmap to phase out coal by 2030, oil by 2045 and gas by 2050, and to electrify sectors such as heating and transport. Colombia’s draft roadmap to largely ditch fossil fuels by 2050 emphasizes that transitioning to renewables could deliver $280 billion for the country in economic benefits. The countries represented in Santa Marta, Colombia, generate about one-third of global economic activity. They broadly agreed to align their trade and finance policies with their transition plans, potentially creating significant economic momentum toward the faster decarbonization needed to avoid overcooking the planet with greenhouse gases. The conference can be seen as a climate diplomacy track running parallel with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, but on a faster train...

As climate diplomacy enters a decisive decade, the focus is no longer only on setting ambitious targets, but on implementing them. In this new phase, the question of where global climate negotiations take place is becoming almost as important as what is negotiated. Location shapes participation, framing, and ultimately, the political energy behind climate action. Against this backdrop, hosting COP31 in Türkiye would represent more than a logistical decision. It would signal a shift in the geography of climate leadership; one that better reflects the complexity of today’s climate challenges and the diversity of actors needed to address them. For much of the past three decades, global climate governance has been driven by advanced economies and a limited number of major emerging powers. While this structure has been instrumental in building international agreements, it has also left key regions underrepresented. The Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East, and parts of Central Asia fall into this category, despite being among the areas most exposed to climate stress. These regions are already experiencing the compounded effects of climate change. Water scarcity is intensifying, prolonged droughts are placing pressure on agricultural systems, and extreme heat events are becoming both more frequent and more severe...

India on Friday confirmed it has withdrawn its bid to host the COP33 climate summit in 2028, but the reasons behind the surprise decision remain unclear, with the government offering only a broad explanation so far. "Yes, India has withdrawn. We have taken several factors into account. But India remains fully committed to meeting its climate change commitments," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a weekly briefing. "We continue to build on our green agenda and, at the same time, see how we can best foster great climate change action worldwide with our international partners," he added. The move, however, has raised questions among climate observers, especially as no detailed justification has been made public. Jaiswal directed queries on specifics to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, which has yet to respond. PROMISE MADE, PROMISE BROKEN The withdrawal marks a sharp reversal from a high-profile pitch by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had proposed India’s candidature to host COP33 during the COP28 summit in Dubai in 2023. The announcement had been widely viewed as an assertion of India’s leadership role in global climate negotiations, particularly as a voice of the Global South. In July 2024,...

...