News

The Urban Future Forum at NYU Tandon was focused on climate tech and equitable solutions

Posted:
July 17, 2024
Image of participants at the forum

In late June, NYU Tandon hosted the first-ever Urban Future Forum, spearheaded by the Urban Future Lab with the help of a grant from the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (an initiative co-founded and co-administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory).

The event was dedicated to bringing together stakeholders from across the climate-tech ecosystem and opened with a speech by Timothy DiGuilo, Head of Sustainable Finance & Advisory at Wells Fargo, who emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainability, their strategic role in financing and advising companies towards climate resilience, and their commitment to impactful partnerships that advance clean technologies and talent development.

The takeaway – and a theme that resonated throughout the day: Every job has a climate connection, and this is an all-hands-on-deck moment in all industries.

Abby Jo Sigal, the Executive Director of the NYC Mayor's Office of Talent and Workforce Development delivered the keynote, touching upon the impact AI and other technological advances are having on the workforce; the importance of addressing historical environmental injustices, promoting community hiring, and multi-sectoral dialogues; and the introduction of New York City's Green Economy Action Plan, which includes investments in key hubs like the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

The Urban Future Forum also featured multiple panels, whose topics ranged from the importance of community involvement and targeted policy interventions to building a green workforce, among myriad others. The core questions explored by the participants included:

  • How can innovators bake equity into their work and ensure that their efforts are not just add-ons but integral parts of internal goals?
  • What constitutes effective and transparent communication throughout the innovation and deployment phases?
  • What are the critical, yet often overlooked, industry challenges faced in piloting and deploying innovations? How can we address them?
  • How can relevant organizations effectively include the community to keep equity top of mind and ensure inclusivity?
  • What progress has been achieved in cultivating the green workforce and what remaining obstacles require attention?

Craig Wilson, Tandon’s Executive Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, asserted, “It's incredible to see the amount of progress that we've made. Community impact requires deep connection, real engagement, and making sure that we take into account all of the things that we've done in the past as we move forward into the future. We all have a role to play in making sure that we create a new, resilient, and decarbonized economy. Step one is to always listen.”

Frederic Clerc, the Interim Managing Director and Carbon to Value Initiative Director at the Urban Future Lab added, “By nature, innovators are enthusiastic about the positive impact of their technology, and they often overlook how it might affect the community where it will be deployed. Events like the Urban Future Forum are really critical for startups, especially at the early stage, to better understand what equity means in the context of their solution, and consider community benefits as early as possible.”

Discussing the impact of the event, Jeannette Williams, the Urban Future Lab’s COO, said: “We are exploring the unique role that incubators and accelerators can play in operationalizing a just transition, and taking the phrase from buzzy jargon to something actionable. We're excited that our attendees and speakers were part of the next iteration of our work, ensuring that community voices are heard and included in these vital climate innovation conversations.”

Featured participants

More to Read