Transforming an NYC island into a living lab for Climate Tech solutions
Because climate impacts touch every aspect of society, there’s now more opportunity than ever for climate tech to play a transformative role across nearly every sector, from the food we eat, to the cars we drive, to how we build our homes. As the pace of technological advancement continues to accelerate, the opportunities for real world application are promising. Now is the time to ensure that these technologies are harnessed to respond to the greatest challenges we face.
Regularly recognized as the #2 technology hub globally, NYC has cemented its reputation for innovation across established sectors including finance, media, and healthcare. Now we are in the midst of putting NYC on the map as a one-of-a-kind hub of climate resilience, committed to applying our tech capacity to ensuring a more sustainable future for all.
The Exchange serves as a bridge between research, innovation, and implementation, creating pathways for communities to transform how cities mitigate and adapt to climate impacts. Climate tech is a critical piece of that puzzle.
Youth-Led Solar: Powering Our Community
Earlier this year, we set out to pilot a collaborative approach to youth education with our partners at Solar One and the Variety Boys and Girls Club in Queens called Youth-Led Solar: Powering Our Community. In this pilot, a group of high school-age students engaged in a project where they built a solar energy unit to power Variety Boys and Girls Club's urban rooftop farm, Sky Farm, and installed an air quality sensor to support long-term learning about their environment.
How Cities and States Can Give Old Batteries a New Life
With the U.S. federal government’s retreat from its previous support for renewable energy and electrification, cities, states, and metropolitan regions are faced with a unique opportunity to lead in a transition to more sustainable systems. The latest report from The New York Climate Exchange provides specific strategies for how urban areas can move forward on a circular economy for electric batteries, thus decreasing carbon emissions, reducing waste, and strengthening local supply chains.
Building a Resilient Workforce for New York City – Key Takeaways from the 2025 Green Skills Summit
At the 2025 Green Skills Summit, hosted by The New York Climate Exchange (The Exchange) and Brooklyn Navy Yard, experts came together from across the workforce ecosystem, including organized labor, training providers, educators, businesses, and policymakers.
Across the two-day summit, attendees convened to discuss the key skills, hiring demands, opportunities, and solutions in the workforce ecosystem. Expert and practitioner panels focused on four critical areas: building decarbonization, advanced energy, vehicle electrification, and stormwater resilience.
Together, attendees and panelists charted a new path forward to meet the tremendous workforce demands ahead, by building the talent, trust, and technology required to get the job done.
Activating Community Data in Cities: Reflections from our Climate Data Workshop
On September 11, 2025, The Exchange and CIV:LAB convened a diverse group of practitioners working at the intersection of environmental sensors and community engagement. With projects spanning New York City, and states like Georgia, Michigan and California, these experts are activating communities around climate risks like poor air quality and flooding, bringing together research, community leaders, and local government to track and respond using data from low-cost sensors. Over the course of four hours, participants explored key successes, common challenges, and shared aspirations for advancing community-driven climate data initiatives.
Meet the Team: Elifmina Mizrahi, Capital Project Manager
This month’s “Meet the Team” spotlight features Elifmina Mizrahi, Capital Project Manager at The New York Climate Exchange. Elifmina brings a background in urban planning, investment banking, and climate tech to her role supporting the planning, design, and development of the Exchange’s new campus on Governors Island.
Meet the Innovators: The New York Climate Exchange, SBU Welcome Climate Tech Fellows
Eight early-stage innovators—helping to define new climate solutions—join The New York Climate Exchange’s Climate Tech Fellowship program.
Climate Communications as a tool for change
Impactful communication is a strategic skill—one that helps break down silos, build bridges, and reach diverse stakeholders with messages that drive tangible action.
The New Resource Race: Critical Minerals & Circularity
As the world accelerates its energy transition, the race for critical minerals has expanded. Lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth materials are vital to everything from electric vehicle (EV) batteries to wind turbines. But with geopolitical constraints, environmental costs, and growing demand, The Exchange and our partners are asking, “How can we ensure access to these finite materials in a responsible and resilient way?”