Every September, New York becomes a stage for big ideas — from Climate Week to the United Nations General Assembly to a whole lineup of “weeks” devoted to global challenges. They bring together leaders, innovators, and activists from around the world, and the result can feel like an overwhelming swirl of panels, speeches, and announcements. With so much happening at once, it’s easy to wonder what actually moves forward after the microphones are turned off. At RYSIT, we like to focus on those moments when the talk translates into tangible steps, namely the projects, investments, and creative sparks that show progress is being made. And at Climate Week 2025, there were plenty of those moments to cheer about.

Big Words, Real Pressure

UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell put it plainly: it’s not enough to make promises anymore. Climate policy has to connect with the real economy — in boardrooms, in cities, and in everyday lives. That’s a high bar, and plenty of people arrived at Climate Week curious to see if the year’s big theme, “Power On,” would really live up to its name.
At RYSIT, we found signs that it did.

A Concert Powered by Clean Energy

In Times Square, AY Young’s Battery Tour lit up the city with music powered entirely by renewable energy. It wasn’t just a fun gimmick. It was proof that even large, high-energy public events can run clean. The show turned climate action into something visible, tangible, and equally as important, joyful — a sight and sound reminder that sustainability can manifest in every facet of our lives.

Shifting the Global Story

On the international stage, China was showing the world what is possible. A decade ago, the country was often described as the world’s biggest climate culprit. In 2025, it announced new ambitions: cutting over 1 billion tonnes of emissions by 2035 and continuing its surge as the global leader in renewable energy. It was one of the clearest signals yet that even the heaviest emitters can redirect their path — and that global-scale change is possible.

Denmark Bets Big

Meanwhile, Denmark became the first country to issue a sovereign green bond under the EU’s new standard. For everyday citizens, that might sound like financial jargon, but its impact is concrete: billions of dollars now directed toward renewable energy, sustainable transport, and restoring nature. By putting climate projects directly into the bloodstream of international finance, Denmark set an important precedent for how nations can fund the transition at scale.

New York Steps Up

Closer to home, New York’s Governor announced a $1 billion sustainability plan — the largest climate investment in the city’s history. That includes $200 million for clean energy generation as well as major funding for EV infrastructure, charging hubs, and electric school buses. For a city known more for its ambition than its follow-through, this felt like a serious bet on the future, and a challenge for other cities to match.

The AI reality check (and a steel move that actually matters)

The big question on everyone’s mind: How do we power the AI boom without blowing past what local grids can handle and do it sustainably?

AI data centers are arriving faster than the wires, transformers, and substations to feed them. These facilities tend to cluster in a few hot spots (close to existing fiber networks, cheap land, and tax incentives) so power demand spikes there, while permits and construction for grid upgrades can take years. Making “retrofitting to sustainable materials” a real challenge.

How can AI help (real tools, not buzzwords):

Forecast & plan better: AI models predict when/where demand will jump and when wind/solar will be strong, so operators can line up power in advance.

Shift & smooth the load: Non-urgent computing (like AI training jobs) can run at off-peak times or when the grid is cleaner; data centers can also join demand-response programs to ease peaks.

Store & supply on site: Batteries (and sometimes on-site solar) handle short bursts, cut peak charges, and keep things running during hiccups.

Cool smarter: Machine-learning (ML) controls adjust cooling minute by minute, cutting wasted energy and sometimes capturing waste heat for reuse.

A concrete move from the week: Microsoft x Stegra (green steel)

To shrink the embedded carbon in new builds, Microsoft struck a two-part deal with Stegra this past week:

Use Stegra’s near-zero-emission, hydrogen-based steel in some European data centers; and
Buy environmental attribute certificates (EACs) so projects outside Europe can claim equivalent low-carbon steel while supply ramps (a first for steel purchasing).
Stegra’s first large plant is slated to start up in late 2026 and scale quickly after (via Canary Media).

Why it matters: Data centers set their footprint twice-first in the materials they use in the steel, (you can’t “retroactively green” the steel you’ve already used) concrete, chillers, servers (and their embodied carbon) and then in the power they draw for decades-committing a big, steady chunk of electricity to that site for years, shaping local grid planning and emissions.

Tackling power and products at the same time is the kind of practical progress Climate Week put a spotlight on.

Power On, not just talk

Climate Week was still a whirlwind of events, announcements, and excitement. But this time the whirlwind carried momentum. Between concerts fueled by batteries, bonds fueling green markets, and billion-dollar city plans, it felt less like aspirational words and more like real movement.
The challenges ahead remain enormous, but this year gave us something worth holding onto: hope backed by action. And if the sparks we saw in 2025 keep spreading, “Power On” may stop being just a theme — and start being a direction.

NYC Climate Week 2025 Recap: From Talk to Tr(action)