Climate Week 2024
Bending the Curve: Climate Actions Depend on Long-Term Observations
Climate Week 2024: Event Recap
Over 50 people attended our Climate Week NYC event on September 25th, 2024, Bending the Curve. Climate Week coincides with the UN General Assembly in NY; Climate Week also brings together thousands of people involved in climate research, observation, and action, with representation from governments, nonprofits, academics, and businesses alike. Each day hosts over 150 events throughout the city.
Our session focused on the importance of long-term observations (LTOs) for tracking the effectiveness of our climate solutions and for guiding climate policies. Four lightning talks showcased the value of long-term observations in the atmosphere, oceans, and on land: the Keeling Curve, marine carbon dioxide removal, land observations, and policy creation. Speakers included Ralph Keeling, SIO; Dave Karl, UH; Julio Betancourt, NPN; and Steve Hamburg, EDF. The event helped us expand our outreach, identify potential partnerships, and connect with prospective donors.
View the Event Here
Event Description
How will we know when we’ve bent the curve, and finally moved fossil-fuel generated CO₂ emissions towards net zero? We’ll know through long-term observations (LTOs). Long-term climate observations are essential for tracking the effectiveness of our solutions and for guiding climate policies. Four lightning talks showcased the value of long-term observations in the atmosphere, oceans, and on land: the Keeling Curve, marine carbon dioxide removal, land observations, and policy creation.
This event highlighted the challenges and importance of long-term observations for climate action and addressed two key questions:
How can we increase awareness of the importance of long-term observations to climate action?
How can we increase support for long-term observations to match the growing societal need?
The iconic Keeling Curve is widely recognized as a key indicator of the climate crisis. Vital long-term measurements, such as the measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide and oxygen, maintained by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), have been taken for many decades. Long-term observations (LTOs) also track variation in carbon sinks on land and ocean, which serve as essential indicators of planetary health as they track the success of our carbon actions.
Despite their significance, creation and maintenance of the measurements have been far from guaranteed. Sustained over the years by generous but short-term support, many critical records have lacked consistent long-term sponsorship.
Starting with the measurements of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases, the program then turned to other examples of LTOs in the ocean and on land, with a focus on their importance for climate policy and monitoring. We highlighted the need for alternative support models, including philanthropic funding.
About the Keeling Curve Foundation
The Keeling Curve Foundation is dedicated to advancing, honoring, and protecting long-term environmental observations for the sake of humanity. We work to:
collaborate to protect globally-imperiled research data collections
communicate the significance of long-term observations to the public and to private/public funders of science
honor outstanding efforts in long-term observations with the Keeling Award
strengthen the LTO community with conferences and workshops to advance and protect globally critical long-term data sets
Speakers
Ralph Keeling, Ph.D., Professor of Geochemistry, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Topic: To bend the curve, we must track the curve
Dave Karl, Ph.D., Professor of Oceanography; Director of the Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa
Topic: Importance of LTOs for monitoring the marine carbon cycle and marine carbon dioxide removal
Julio Betancourt, Ph.D., retired federal scientist, co-founder of USA-National Phenology Network
Topic: Tracking climatic impacts on seasonal timing through LTOs
Steve Hamburg, Ph.D., Chief Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund
Topic: LTOs are essential for accelerating GHG emissions reductions
What is Climate Week NYC?
Climate Week NYC is the largest annual climate event of its kind, bringing together over 600 events and activities across the City of New York – in person, hybrid and online. Each year, business leaders, political change makers, local decision takers and civil society representatives of all ages and backgrounds, from all over the world, gather to drive the transition, speed up progress, and champion change that is already happening.
Climate Week NYC is hosted by Climate Group, an international non-profit whose purpose is to drive climate action, fast. Climate Group hosts the official program during the week that brings together the most senior international figures from business, government, civil society and the climate sector.
This year, Climate Week NYC was held from September 22-29, 2024. The event takes place every year in partnership with the United Nations General Assembly and is run in coordination with the United Nations and the City of New York.
