The Crux Alliance is excited to once again spotlight the leaders driving bold climate policy in the world’s highest-emitting countries at New York Climate Week. Across our events, we’ll explore the pressing challenges of this moment and highlight solutions that secure affordable clean energy and enhance quality of life for millions. We look forward to connecting with you there.
All events will be hosted on the 2nd floor of Lulla at the Motto by Hilton Chelsea, 113 West 24th Street.
Tues., Sept. 23
8:30 - 10:30 AM
Cleaner transport, cleaner air: Strategies for electric and sustainable mobility for all
Registration is now closed.
Join the Crux Alliance, the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy , and the International Council on Clean Transportation for an interactive and discussion-based event that highlights strategies for improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions with a focus on the urban transport sector. Presenters and speakers will draw on global research and case studies to share insights into emissions monitoring, the future of electric transport, and sustainable mobility policies that center health, safety, and equity.
Breakfast and refreshments will be provided.
Speakers
Rachel Muncrief, Executive Director, International Council on Clean Transportation
Jacob Mason, Senior Director of Research, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy
Isabela Brown, Senior Policy Advisor, NYC Office of Climate and Environmental Justice
Paulina López, Executive Director, Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition
Michelle Meyer, Researcher, International Partnerships, International Council on Clean Transportation
Catherine Ittner, Program Manager, Zero Emission Freight, C40 Cities
Molly Greenberg, Campaign Director, Moving Forward Network
3:00 - 4:30 PM
The hidden hero of climate action: The heat pump story
It is now clear that the mighty heat pump is the key technology for eliminating the need for polluting fossil fuels to heat our buildings and that it can also play an outsized role in cleaning up industry! Heat pump superpowers include high efficiency, versatility, and cost-effectiveness for households and business owners. But while heat pumps offer tremendous advantages over fossil fuel-based heating, we need a much faster roll-out in homes and buildings and to see much greater heat pump adoption in industry to be on track to reach global climate goals.
In this session, you’ll get the chance to hear from heat pump champions who are innovating policy and market solutions to significantly speed heat pump adoption in key countries and regions around the world. They’ll share insights into how the current policy landscape here in the U.S. and abroad is impacting heat pump success, how their organizations are tackling existing challenges and seizing opportunities, as well as share recent global success stories that can inspire bolder action. By the end of the conversation, you’ll walk away feeling confident to champion the mighty heat pump as a climate superhero!
Join us at a “Heat Pump Pub” for a casual happy hour immediately following this session.
Speakers
Sarah Spengeman, Director of Communications, Crux Alliance (moderator)
Katherine Dixon, CEO, Regulatory Assistance Project
Julia Metz, Director, Agora Industry
Helen Walter-Terrinoni, Director, Global Climate Policy, Trane Technologies
Nyla Mabro, Head of Strategy and Marketing, the Clean Fight
Radina Volova, Commissioner, New York Public Service Commission
4:30 - 6:30 PM
Happy hour celebration at the “Heat Pump Pub”
Following our panel, join us at the “Heat Pump Pub” for a casual happy hour dedicated to the mighty appliance!
This is your chance to connect with experts who understand heat pumps inside and out. Ask your questions, hear their insights, and discover why this appliance is revolutionizing how we heat our homes and power industries without polluting the planet.
Enjoy some food, drinks, and fun games designed to help you learn more about the heat pump’s many benefits. Whether you’re just getting to know the heat pump or already a dedicated champion, this event offers a mix of education, networking, and celebration.
Come raise a glass to the heat pump—climate action’s new MVP!
Speakers
Corinne Schneider, Chief Communications & Development Officer, CLASP
Christine Egan, Chief Executive Officer, CLASP
Wed., Sept. 24
10:30 - 11:45 AM
Secure energy, safe climate: aligning policy and finance to accelerate the clean transition
As the world faces rising energy demands and volatile fossil fuel markets, an energy-secure future will require strategies that better prioritize people, economies, and the climate. Join the Crux Alliance, Agora Industry, and the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) for this event that brings together transport, industry, and electrification experts to highlight pressing issues in today’s energy landscape. Speakers will explore ways in which smart policy and investment into sustainable solutions for mobility, supply chains, and infrastructure can reduce emissions and foster economic and climate resilience. The discussion will address both domestic and multilateral dimensions to demonstrate that energy security relies on both cooperation and diversity—and highlight the role of national financing in unlocking critical funding for a cleaner, more stable energy future.
Speakers
Joe Ryan, Executive Director, Crux Alliance (moderator)
Heather Thompson, CEO, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy
Julia Metz, Director, Agora Industry
Samantha Gross, Director, Energy Security and Climate Initiative, Brookings Institution
3:00 - 5:00 PM
Power for all: Making clean energy affordable everywhere
Registration is now closed.
Access to affordable clean energy is not only a matter of justice, it’s critical to securing a successful transition. This two-part session will explore how to overcome barriers to affordable access through innovative policy design and targeted investments that can lower emissions and lower costs for people. Join us for a timely discussion on why affordability isn’t just a side issue—it’s at the heart of the transition to a net-zero economy.
Part I: Energy affordability solutions in a post-IRA America
With federal clean energy incentives rolled back, household energy bills could rise an average of $170 a year—up to $640 in some states—while tax credits and rebates for renewables, heat pumps, and EVs disappear and programs like Solar for All are canceled. Experts will discuss how these changes affect families facing high energy burdens, how it could present challenges to efforts to accelerate electrification, and what policymakers at all levels of government can do to keep energy affordable, expand access to clean technology, and protect vulnerable communities.
Part II: Global lessons on affordability in the clean transition
Around the world, smart policies are making clean energy more affordable and accessible than ever—but scaling these solutions fast is essential. In this panel, panelists with expertise spanning electricity, buildings, appliance efficiency, and transportation policy will share proven affordability strategies, from targeted subsidies and innovative financing to tariff reform, infrastructure investment, and local manufacturing. They will highlight global best practices and lessons learned, showing how successes in one place can inspire and accelerate affordable clean energy transitions everywhere.
Speakers
Session 1
Steve Capanna, Policy Director, Crux Alliance (moderator)
Rachel Muncrief, Executive Director, International Council on Clean Transportation
Damali Harding, Executive Managing Director, Amendment Nine Strategic Consulting
Rory Christian, Chair and CEO, New York Public Service Commission (Invited)
Session 2
Steve Capanna, Policy Director, Crux Alliance (moderator)
Jackline Okeyo, Founder and CEO, Mzansi Clean Energy Capital
Ana Maria Carreño, Senior Director Climate, CLASP
Katherine Dixon, CEO, Regulatory Assistance Project
Heather Thompson, CEO, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy
5:00 - 7:00 PM
Leadership is global: A climate cheers hour
Join the Crux Alliance and ReNew2030, for a lively happy hour celebrating global clean energy policy progress—and the expert leaders driving it forward. From renewables to efficiency to zero-emissions transport, climate policies are advancing worldwide—delivering global solutions, but also underscoring the need to accelerate while the momentum is with us. This event honors both the progress being made and the expert leaders who are harnessing it to accelerate impact at greater speed and scale.
We’ll also be toasting significant milestone anniversaries for three powerhouse organizations—the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), and CLASP—whose decades of work have shaped the global climate landscape. Come raise a glass with us to celebrate their legacies, the wins they’ve helped deliver, and the global community that’s keeping climate ambition alive.
Speakers
Rebecca Collyer, Executive Director, ReNew2030
Sebastian Castellanos, Associate Director, Emerging Economies, Drive Electric Campaign
Bishal Thapa, Chief Strategy and Impacts Officer, CLASP
Heather Thompson, CEO, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy
