NY Climate Tech: Mar 24 - Mar 30

A call to action in our backyards, climate tech in London and New York, grid flexibility, storage, ag tech, oyster beds, and more!

Alec Turnbull, Sonam Velani, and Streetlife Ventures

Mar 24, 2026

Hi friends,

Don’t miss our next 🗽NY Climate Tech Meetup on March 31! We’re teaming up with with NetZero Insights, Remarkable Ventures, Streetlife Ventures, and local startup Every Electric - prep for summer with their free ConEd battery-for-A/C program below!

Here are our picks for the week:

Today head to the UWS for the annual 🌍 Columbia Global Sustainability Summit - a full-day event features keynote speeches, roundtable discussions, and high-level networking with representatives from 30+ countries.
Wednesday meet some great climate-tech startups visiting us from across the pond at 🇬🇧 London Comes to New York: Clean Tech Solutions for Global Cities or add a new piece to your closet at 👗 Sip & Swap: A Curated Clothing Swap at Purple Waves.
Thursday discuss how we’re going to deal with peak loads and demand response at the ⚡ Grid Flexibility and Storage Forum and check out the latest innovations in ag tech at the 🥕 Make It in Brooklyn Ag Tech Pitch Contest.
Friday explore the legacy of New York Black oyster entrepreneurs at the 🦪 Community Design + Oyster Mobile Workshop at Weeksville Heritage Center or learn what you can do to address microplastics at 🔬 MICRO- AND NANO-PLASTICS. Impact on Environment, Human Health and Climate at Civic Hall.

📣 And finally, an issue near and dear to our hearts - literally!

As you may have heard, New York is at risk of rolling back the landmark Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which would lock in long-term dependence on natural gas, increase exposure to volatile energy costs, and slow progress on clean energy, public health, and job creation. Framing affordability and the energy transition as tradeoffs is misleading; weakening the law would likely raise costs over time and reduce New York’s competitiveness in the growing clean energy economy.

If you’re in New York, call or email your state senator, assembly member, and the governor’s office to oppose any rollback. Phone calls are most effective:

You can use language like: “I’m concerned about efforts to roll back the CLCPA. It would lock New Yorkers into expensive fossil fuels, harm public health, and reduce access to clean energy jobs. I’m asking you to oppose any rollback and protect the state’s climate commitments. My vote will reflect your position on this issue.”

Policy outcomes here often influence other states, and collective action, especially when it’s specific and sustained, can shape a positive direction forward!

Til next week!

Cheers,
Alec, Sonam, and the Climate Tech Cities team

This Week’s Events

Events taking place between Mar 24 and Mar 30.

🌍 Columbia Global Sustainability Summit: Tue, Mar 24
🏢⚡ Data Center Cocktail & Networking: Tue, Mar 24
🌱 Creatives + Changemakers = Action: Tue, Mar 24
🌱 Spotlight: Spring 2026 Entrepreneurs in Residence Roundtable: Wed, Mar 25
👗 Sip & Swap: A Curated Clothing Swap at Purple Waves: Wed, Mar 25
🍷 Women Love Wine: A Luxe Wine Tasting Experience: Wed, Mar 25
🇬🇧 London Comes to New York: Clean Tech Solutions for Global Cities: Wed, Mar 25
🌿 Amitav Ghosh The Nutmeg’s Curse: Non-human Voices, More-than-human Stories: Wed, Mar 25
⚡ Grid Flexibility and Storage Forum: Thu, Mar 26
🥐 NYC Impact-Makers Breakfast: Thu, Mar 26
🐦 RBESNA Symbolic Fencing Installation with NYC Parks: Thu, Mar 26
🌍 Spring 2026 Lecture in Climate Data Science: DHRUV BALWADA: Thu, Mar 26
⚕️ Health Care Is In Crisis! Listen to 6 health-tech entrepreneurs explain how they are helping the situation.: Thu, Mar 26
Climate Fintech (and friends!) Happy Hour: Thu, Mar 26
💧 NYWEA World Water Day Seminar: Thu, Mar 26
🥕 Make It in Brooklyn Ag Tech Pitch Contest: Thu, Mar 26
🎭 Womens Coalition Red Carpet for Social Justice Celebration: Fri, Mar 27
🦪 Community Design + Oyster Mobile Workshop: Fri, Mar 27
🔬 MICRO- AND NANO-PLASTICS. Impact on Environment, Human Health and Climate.: Fri, Mar 27
🎭 ECOLOGICAL CITY - Art & Climate Solutions Workshop (COSTUME & BIO ART): Sat, Mar 28
🎭 ECOLOGICAL CITY - Art & Climate Solutions Workshop (PUPPET): Sat, Mar 28

Opportunities

🔋 The Clean Fight: Energy Storage: Deploy Now: Due 3/30

The Clean Fight’s seventh program, Deploy Now, is focused on accelerating energy storage deployment in New York State over the next 12–18 months, targeting solutions that can be installed within a year to support grid reliability and electrification. Selected companies receive business development support with utilities and developers, introductions to capital providers, and eligibility for up to $100K in grant funding for in-state demonstration projects.

🎨 Pratt STEAMPlant & Arts Grant: Due 3/31

Pratt Institute’s STEAMplant initiative is calling for applications for funding for professional grants and residencies, as well as student fellowships. Grants up to $7,500 are available. The initiative’s mission is to foster interdisciplinary collaboration between the STEM fields and the arts.

🌍 Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures: Due 3/31

Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures (MSISV) provides innovators with access to capital and resources to help them develop and scale. Our mission is to catalyze innovation and impact by supporting early-stage startups and nonprofits that are building solutions for a more inclusive and sustainable future. MSISV has distributed $38M+ in capital to 140+ startups and organizations since inception.

🌟 Cleantech Open: Due 4/6

Cleantech Open is looking for the world’s most promising startups in the cleantech industry! Do you have an idea that could help solve an environmental or energy challenge? Apply to the 2026 accelerator to gain access to a full business development program that includes expert mentors, investor networking opportunities, industry connections, and a chance to compete regionally and nationally for cash prizes and in-kind services to launch your venture.

🌎 Climate Curve Prize: Methane: Due 4/17

The Climate Curve Prize: Methane is a new global competition funding solutions that reduce methane emissions in food, agriculture, and waste systems, with applications open until April 17, 2026. It will award $200K total, including $25K each to eight winners, plus visibility and access to a global network of funders and partners. Applicants must have active, scalable projects that can quantify methane reduction impact, across categories like mitigation, finance, MRV, and social pathways, with finalists announced in July and winners in September during NYC Climate Week.

🇺🇸 Climate Science Serving America Fellowship: Due 4/17

Project Drawdown has launched a remote fellowship for PhD-level scientists and engineers working on climate solutions, focused on research, outreach, and collaboration with its internal experts. The program offers $130K–$140K for early-career fellows and $150K–$160K for mid-career fellows, plus benefits and a $10K annual stipend for research-related expenses.

🌇 Urban Future Competition: Due 4/27

Celebrating its 10th year, the Urban Future Prize Competition is open for startup applications, awarding $50,000 in non-dilutive funding to two winners, $10,000 to two runner-up teams, and admission into the ACRE Incubator for leading climatetech startups across Climate Mitigation and Climate Adaptation tracks.

🚀 Entrepreneur Roundtable Accelerator: Due 5/4

ERANYC is where founders build, connect, and grow their companies with the help of our team and deep network of mentors and investors. ERA provides a unique advantage to founders—NYC’s largest mentor network, with 1,000+ expert mentors and 700+ alumni founders across all major industries. $150K investment on a 6% Post-Money SAFE, $600K+ in perks & cloud credits (AWS, Google Cloud, OpenAI & more).

Upcoming Opportunities

ConEd Nonprofit Grants: Due June 30

Upcoming Events

🚀 BATWorks Climate Scaling Summit: Tue, Mar 31
🌳 Making Carbon Markets Work, A COPx Conversation on What’s Next: Tue, Mar 31
🏢 Comprehensive Green Building Certification Guide – 1 Day Workshop in NYC: Tue, Mar 31
⚖️ Jubilee: The Public Debt Dilemma: Tue, Mar 31
🏭 Climate Scaling Summit: From Pilot to Scaling Manufacturing, Hiring, & Beyond: Tue, Mar 31
⚛️ New Nuclear Frontiers: Tue, Mar 31
🌱 Climate Re-Imaginaries: Tue, Mar 31
⚡ The Elements of Power: In Conversation with Nicolas Niarchos: Tue, Mar 31
🌱 CLIMATE HAPPY HOUR: Tue, Mar 31
🌱 Building Sustainable & ESG-Driven Organizations: 1 Day Course, New York, NY: Wed, Apr 1
🌡️ Without Shade Without Rest: A Documentary on Extreme Heat & Human Rights: Wed, Apr 1
♻️ Manhattan Climate Changemakers Hour of Action: Wed, Apr 1
⚡🔐 The OSI Stack for the Distributed Grid: Thu, Apr 2
⚛️ Accelerating New Nuclear with AI: Fri, Apr 3
🌱 94th Global Conference on Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Sustainability: Fri, Apr 3
🌱✍️ Climate Utopias Writing Workshop: Sat, Apr 4
🏛️ Iñaki Echeverria: Mon, Apr 6
⚖️ Activists to Terrorists: How NSPM-7 Targets Non-Profits and Activists: Mon, Apr 6
⚡ Taming the 2026 Peak: Rethinking Demand Response to Address Year-Round Grid: Tue, Apr 7
♻️ Wasted x Van Alen – with Pratt Institute: Tue, Apr 7
🎨👕 Upcycle your Clothes with Paint!: Tue, Apr 7
⚛️ Deploying Nuclear at Scale - From Ambition to Execution: Wed, Apr 8
🌱 Climate Cafe & Facilitator Training: Wed, Apr 8
🎵 Anna Harwell Celenza presents On the Record, with Dessa: Wed, Apr 8
🌊 Spring 2026 Lecture in Climate Data Science: NILS THÜREY: Thu, Apr 9
🌱 Climate Policy & The Art of Doing: Thu, Apr 9
🔥⛏️ Heat Beneath Our Feet: Unlocking Superhot Geothermal with Carlos Araque, CEO, Quaise Energy (In-Person): Thu, Apr 9
🍹 New York CDR Community Drinks: Thu, Apr 9
🌲 Science & Society: Do Forests Feel?: Thu, Apr 9
🧵 Crafting Community: A Textile Arts Fair: Sat, Apr 11
👗 Power & Fashion: Clothing Swap & Book Launch: Sat, Apr 11
🌱 Earth Celebrations and the Ecological City - Memory Mural Workshop: Sat, Apr 11
🎨 Earth Celebrations and the Ecological City - Memory Mural Workshop: Sat, Apr 11

🌎 Climate Tech Cities and Streetlife Ventres Startup and Talent Platforms

Climate Tech Cities and Streetlife Ventures are launching new platforms to support climate founders, funders, and career transitioners! There is no shortage of great companies raising money for their groundbreaking ideas, great investors looking to support with capital, and great talent living the mantra that every job is a climate job. We can’t wait to hear from you!

🌍 Columbia Global Sustainability Summit

When: Tue, Mar. 24 from 9:00 AM to 9:30 PM (EDT)

Where: Low Memorial Library, New York

The 2026 Columbia Global Sustainability Summit brings together over 500 international leaders, scholars, and entrepreneurs to explore cutting-edge solutions in AI, biomedicine, green finance, and sustainable development. Hosted at Columbia University’s iconic Low Memorial Library, the full-day event features keynote speeches, roundtable discussions, and high-level networking with representatives from 30+ countries. The summit emphasizes practical implementation of sustainability ideas, resource mobilization, and youth empowerment through direct engagement with industry titans and academic experts.

🏢⚡ Data Center Cocktail & Networking

When: Tue, Mar. 24 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM (EDT)

Where: HOK, New York

This exclusive networking event at HOK’s New York studio brings together industry leaders in sustainable data center design, covering regenerative architecture, resilience, flexible compute platforms, and regulatory challenges. The evening features curated speakers from HOK, ROCKWOOL, CPower, and Haynes Boone, offering direct access to decision-makers across real estate, finance, technology, and hyperscaler operations. With a focus on balancing digital infrastructure growth with environmental responsibility, attendees gain insights into innovative design strategies and emerging solutions shaping next-generation urban data centers.

🌱 Creatives + Changemakers = Action

When: Tue, Mar. 24 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM (EDT)

Where: Parklife, Kings County

Climate Designers NYC and Climate Changemakers Brooklyn are hosting a purpose-driven networking mixer that brings together creatives, strategists, organizers, and climate advocates for an evening of connection and action. Held at Parklife in Brooklyn, this free event emphasizes real-world collaboration over traditional presentations, featuring a short welcome and a collective action moment designed to channel energy into tangible climate impact. The gathering targets designers, communicators, policy professionals, and climate-curious individuals ready to bridge creative culture with civic engagement.

🌱 Spotlight: Spring 2026 Entrepreneurs in Residence Roundtable

When: Wed, Mar. 25 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM (EDT)

Where: 526 Hudson St, New York

This roundtable introduces Anew’s Spring 2026 cohort of Entrepreneurs in Residence—five innovative social entrepreneurs tackling critical issues including criminal justice reform, educational equity, reproductive health, community revitalization, and climate justice. The event features founders of established nonprofits and social enterprises who are advancing transformational solutions across New York City and beyond. Attendees will have direct access to learn about these initiatives and engage in meaningful conversation with mission-driven leaders reshaping their respective fields.

👗 Sip & Swap: A Curated Clothing Swap at Purple Waves

When: Wed, Mar. 25 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (EDT)

Where: Purple Waves, New York

Sip & Swap is a curated clothing exchange event hosted by Zero Waste NYC at Purple Waves, combining sustainable fashion with community engagement. Attendees can refresh their wardrobes by swapping gently used clothing items while enjoying beverages in a social setting. This event directly supports the zero-waste lifestyle movement and offers a practical, cost-effective alternative to fast fashion consumption. The intimate 2-hour format creates an ideal environment for like-minded individuals to connect over shared sustainability values.

🍷 Women Love Wine: A Luxe Wine Tasting Experience

When: Wed, Mar. 25 from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM (EDT)

Where: Kings County

This Women’s History Month wine tasting brings together women in tech and entrepreneurship for an evening featuring premium wines from the McBride Sisters collection, led by a certified sommelier. Beyond wine education, attendees will explore how technology—including AI, precision agriculture, and sustainability software—is transforming the wine industry and addressing climate change. The event combines luxury networking with meaningful conversation, creating an intentional space for female technologists, creators, and entrepreneurs to connect and celebrate their achievements.

🌿 Amitav Ghosh The Nutmeg’s Curse: Non-human Voices, More-than-human Stories

When: Wed, Mar. 25 from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM (EDT)

Where: LeFrak Theatre, LL Barnard Hall, New York

Acclaimed author Amitav Ghosh presents “The Nutmeg’s Curse: Non-human Voices, More-than-human Stories” as part of the Barnard English Department’s prestigious Jacqueline Lahn Bloom Lecture series. This event explores Ghosh’s distinctive literary approach to environmental and post-colonial narratives through non-human perspectives. The lecture offers students and faculty an opportunity to engage with one of contemporary literature’s most influential voices on climate, history, and interconnected storytelling.

🇬🇧 London Comes to New York: Clean Tech Solutions for Global Cities

When: Wed, Mar. 25 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (EDT)

Where: CLA, 60 E 42nd St suite 5100, New York, New York

London & Partners and CLA are pleased to invite you to a drinks reception to showcase a delegation of innovative sustainability and climate tech companies from the UK capital, visiting NYC as part of Grow London Global’s 2026 Sustainability Trade Mission. The delegation represents a diverse range of solutions, from digital twins for decarbonisation and building optimisation, to waste-to-energy circular fuels, biodiversity mapping solutions, and data-driven climate resilience platforms, reflecting London’s role as a global hub for green innovation.

⚡ Grid Flexibility and Storage Forum

When: Thu, Mar. 26 from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM (EDT)

Where: New York

A private, invitation-only breakfast forum bringing together corporate leaders, utilities, investors, and founders to discuss the future of grid flexibility and energy storage technologies. Hosted by Wells Fargo and Net Zero Insights with ecosystem partners including Urban Future Lab, Third Derivative, and Greentown Labs, this curated event features panel discussions and topic-specific networking tables focused on market signals and strategic activity shaping the storage and grid flexibility landscape. Limited to 50 guests, the forum is designed for candid, high-signal conversation among innovation and decarbonization leaders across utilities, energy majors, industrials, technology companies, and scaling startups.

🥐 NYC Impact-Makers Breakfast

When: Thu, Mar. 26 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM (EDT)

Where: Le Crocodile, Kings County

IMMA Collective hosts an intimate quarterly breakfast for 10 independent founders, freelancers, and consultants building purpose-driven businesses in climate, social impact, and related sectors. This curated gathering, hosted in NYC by Eliza Yvette Esquivel, creates a confidential space for candid conversations about the realities of sustainable entrepreneurship—both financially and personally. The intentionally small circle ensures depth of discussion and meaningful peer support among mission-aligned builders.

🐦 RBESNA Symbolic Fencing Installation with NYC Parks

When: Thu, Mar. 26 from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM (EDT)

Where: Arverne East Nature Preserve, Queens County

This hands-on volunteer event brings together NYC Parks Wildlife Unit and the NYC Plover Project to install protective stringline fences for endangered Piping Plovers and shorebirds at Rockaway Beach. Participants will contribute directly to wildlife conservation efforts while learning about shorebird nesting habitat protection in an urban setting. The free event combines environmental stewardship with community engagement, offering a unique opportunity to support species recovery in New York City.

🌍 Spring 2026 Lecture in Climate Data Science: DHRUV BALWADA

When: Thu, Mar. 26 from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM (EDT)

Where: Columbia Innovation Hub - Tang Family Hall, New York

This seminar from Columbia’s LEAP Center features Dhruv Balwada discussing climate data science, combining artificial intelligence and physics approaches to understanding Earth systems. The event offers direct access to cutting-edge research in a critical field where AI and climate science intersect. Held at Columbia’s Innovation Hub, this free lecture provides valuable learning opportunities for students and professionals interested in climate solutions and data-driven Earth science.

⚕️ March 26: Health Care Is In Crisis! Listen to 6 health-tech entrepreneurs explain how they are helping the situation.

When: Thu, Mar. 26 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM (EDT)

Where: Fabrik NYC, New York

This rapid-fire panel brings together six health-tech entrepreneurs addressing the healthcare crisis through innovative solutions, from sleep technology to long-COVID treatments. Each speaker delivers a focused 7-minute lightning talk followed by audience Q&A, creating an efficient format for learning about cutting-edge health-tech approaches. The event attracts a mix of founders, investors, and marketing leaders with proven track records at major companies like Meta, Roblox, and Novartis, offering strong networking potential for those interested in healthcare innovation.

Climate Fintech (and friends!) Happy Hour

When: Thu, Mar. 26 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM (EDT)

Where: New York

We’re bringing together climate fintech professionals and members of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability for a casual happy hour meetup. Whether you work in the space, are looking to learn more, or simply enjoy good company over drinks, you’re welcome! It’s a cash bar—come thirsty! Grab your drink of choice, mingle, and enjoy the vibe! Organized by GreenPortfolio, your guide to climate-smart investing and the NYC Chapter of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability. By registering for this event, you agree to share your registration information with GreenPortfolio.

💧 NYWEA World Water Day Seminar

When: Thu, Mar. 26 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM (EDT)

Where: Arcadis New York, New York

NYWEA’s World Water Day Seminar explores urban water management and climate resilience through NYC case studies and global perspectives. This event brings together water and environmental professionals to discuss innovative solutions for sustainable urban water systems. The seminar offers valuable networking opportunities with industry experts and actionable insights on climate adaptation strategies relevant to municipal and corporate water management.

🥕 Make It in Brooklyn Ag Tech Pitch Contest

When: Thu, Mar. 26 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (EDT)

Where: GOLFZON Social, 15 Hoyt St, Brooklyn, New York

The Make It in Brooklyn Ag Tech Pitch Contest, hosted by the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, showcases five NYC-based startups presenting agricultural technology solutions to a panel of judges. The event highlights innovations across areas like sustainable farming, food systems, and agtech, offering founders exposure to investors and the chance to win a $5K prize to accelerate their ventures.

🎭 Womens Coalition Red Carpet for Social Justice Celebration

When: Fri, Mar. 27 from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM (EDT)

Where: The Terrace on Barclay @D37 Headquarters on the 11th Floor, New York

The Women’s Coalition Red Carpet for Social Justice Celebration is an in-person gala event dedicated to honoring and advancing social justice initiatives. Held at The Terrace on Barclay in Manhattan, this free event brings together advocates and change-makers for an evening of celebration and community building. The event provides a unique networking opportunity for professionals committed to social justice causes to connect, share experiences, and strengthen collaborative efforts.

🦪 Community Design + Oyster Mobile Workshop

When: Fri, Mar. 27 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (EDT)

Where: Weeksville Heritage Center, Brooklyn

This community workshop at Weeksville Heritage Center combines cultural history education with hands-on creative activities, exploring the legacy of New York Black oyster entrepreneurs while participants craft oyster mobiles and collaboratively design a shade structure. The free event offers a unique intersection of local history, environmental awareness, and participatory design, fostering both learning and community engagement in Brooklyn.

🔬 MICRO- AND NANO-PLASTICS. Impact on Environment, Human Health and Climate.

When: Fri, Mar. 27 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM (EDT)

Where: Civic Hall, New York

This event examines the critical issue of micro- and nano-plastic pollution and its cascading effects on environmental systems, human health, and climate stability. Attendees will explore how these invisible particles have contaminated ecosystems globally and infiltrated human bodies, causing cellular damage and systemic health impacts. The evening combines expert presentations with structured networking opportunities, providing both educational depth and professional connection-building in a timely discussion of an urgent planetary challenge.

🎭 ECOLOGICAL CITY - Art & Climate Solutions Workshop (COSTUME & BIO ART)

When: Sat, Mar. 28 from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM (EDT)

Where: Earth Celebrations, New York

This workshop combines art and climate activism through collaborative costume creation and bio art, culminating in an ecological city procession. Participants will work directly with artists to design wearable art that communicates climate solutions while building community engagement around environmental action. The free event leverages creative expression as a tool for raising awareness about ecological challenges and sustainable alternatives.

🎭 ECOLOGICAL CITY - Art & Climate Solutions Workshop (PUPPET)