Turning Climate Data into Action: Key Takeaways from The Exchange Climate Solutions Summit Workshop

 On April 17, The New York Climate Exchange convened partners, policymakers, data practitioners, and community leaders for its second annual Climate Solutions Summit NYC. This year’s summit was focused on the urgent need to close the gap between climate data and real-world action.  

The day opened with remarks from Campbell Watson (IBM Research) and a keynote from Amanda Lefton (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation). 

Then, a practitioner showcase demonstrated how climate data is already being actioned in NYC and beyond, from organizations like the Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice (MOCEJ), Rebuild By Design, and IBM Impact Accelerator.  

A fireside chat featuring remarks from Paul Shepson, dean of Stony Brook’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, and a conversation between Kevin Reed, Lead Climate Scientist at The Exchange and New York University professor Yuliya Parshina-Kottas, explored open data sharing ecosystems and public data translation. Shepson’s comments illustrated how The Exchange and its partner network can work to narrow the distance between data collection and policy application. One example of this in practice is the Governors Island Environmental Observatory, which provides local, real-time air quality information and engages visitors in community science.  

Throughout the day, one question kept surfacing: how can climate data help New Yorkers make informed decisions and take meaningful action?

In the afternoon, attendees tackled this question in a hands-on workshop focused on improving data access, communication, and impact. 

The session brought together participants from different sectors to design data tools and approaches grounded in real community needs. Working in teams, participants developed concepts tied to specific “NYC Field Guide” use cases—real-world challenges where better access to information could improve resilience, preparedness, and environmental outcomes.  

By the end of the 90-minute workshop, each group presented a prototype idea for a data-driven tool or solution that could support measurable climate action. Just as importantly, the session surfaced broader lessons about what effective, inclusive climate data systems should look like. 

Designing Solutions Around Real Challenges

The workshop used a user-first design approach. Instead of starting with technology, participants started with people: what decisions they face, what information is missing, and how better data could change outcomes. 

To anchor the discussion, NYC Field Guides represented a range of real users and scenarios: 

• WE ACT for Environmental Justice explored expanding their Climate Ready Uptown Plan resources to environmental justice communities across New York City.  

• Studio WXY examined ways to improve tree canopy coverage by helping private property owners and managers plant and steward trees to support the NYC Urban Forest Plan’s goal of reaching 30% tree canopy coverage. 

• Green Guerillas focused on using data to position community gardens as critical climate infrastructure. 

• NYC Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Coastal Resilience, considered hyper-local flood resilience tools for forecasting, hindcasting and real-time deployment of resources.  

Connecting to Users

A clear theme emerged: the best tools aren’t the most complex—they’re the most usable. Tools should meet New Yorkers where they are, with clear, actionable information. With so many existing tools, the opportunity is often not to build new ones, but to make current ones more accessible and useful. 

Participants emphasized that tools should meet New Yorkers where they are, delivering clear, streamlined information that supports people to act. With so many tools, digital platforms and apps already out there, sometimes it’s less about creating something brand new and more about making what’s already there more inviting and actionable.  

In the Studio WXY case, one idea combined address-level data (soil, flood risk, tree suitability) to guide property owners on where and how to plant trees. 

For WE ACT, participants proposed a customizable readiness map tailored to household needs. 

Another clear takeaway was the importance of improving information sharing—not simply creating more standalone tools. Participants noted that many apps and dashboards already exist but often remain fragmented or require a high-level of technical know-how to engage with. 

In the Green Guerillas case, one idea envisioned a shared platform for gardeners to exchange data, practices, and impact, which could strengthen collaboration and visibility. 

Participants also stressed communication design. Data only matters if people can understand and use it both in their language and format. 

Building Trust, Community Value, and Long-Term Impact

The workshop also surfaced a critical balancing act: climate data systems must be open and useful while still protecting privacy and building community trust. 

For NYC DEP, participants explored centralized flood-risk platforms for agencies, while acknowledging concerns around surveillance and data use. 

Similarly, in the WE ACT for Environmental Justice discussion, participants stressed that communities must control how their data is used. Effective resilience tools should empower communities, not reinforce top-down decision-making. 

Finally, many groups focused on showing the broader social benefits of climate action. Data can be a powerful motivator when it helps people see how individual choices contribute to neighborhood well-being. 

In the Studio WXY scenario, participants discussed tools that could show residents how planting a tree improves shade, air quality, and neighborhood livability while contributing to the City’s larger urban forest goals. Some suggested augmented reality features that could visualize future canopy growth. 

Likewise, Green Guerillas inspired ideas for neighborhood-scale monitoring that demonstrate how gardens reduce heat and improve local microclimates—making visible benefits that are often felt but rarely measured in connection to these critical community spaces. 

Looking Ahead

The workshop made one point clear: climate data is most powerful when it helps people make decisions in their daily lives. 

Whether supporting emergency preparedness, expanding tree canopy, strengthening community gardens, or improving flood response, the strongest ideas centered community trust and practical user experience to deliver measurable impact.  As cities continue investing in climate technology, these lessons offer a strong roadmap: start with users, simplify access, build collaboration, and ensure residents benefit from the value created.