Climate Action: A Food Waste Breakthrough

On Monday, September 22nd, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, join us at WNYC-NPR Studios’ The Greene Space in New York City for an exclusive, invitation-only event as part of Climate Week NYC. Hosted by Food Tank, The UN Environment Programme, Apeel Sciences, FlashFood, the American Frozen Food Institute, and ReFED, this event will bring together leading experts to discuss the intersection of climate action and food waste.

This event will also be streamed live on Food Tank at FoodTank.com and on Food Tank’s YouTube Channel. Subscribe to us on YouTube HERE and please join the Food Tank newsletter list for reminders.

Confirmed speakers and moderators include Somini Sengupta, international climate reporter at The New York Times; Michael Grunwald, Food & Climate Columnist at Canary Media and contributing writer for The New York Times Opinion; Harry Chrispin, Senior Manager, Sustainability, Hilton; Dana Gunders, President, ReFED; Alison Bodor, President and CEO, American Frozen Food Institute; Stacy Blondin, Behavioral Research Associate, World Resources Institute; Jordan Schenck, CEO, Flashfood; Roni Neff, Professor, Johns Hopkins University; Jilly Stephens, Chief Executive Officer, City Harvest; Caleb McClennan, President, RARE; Elliott Wolf, VP and Chief Data Scientist, Lineage Logistics; David Rogers, International Director, WRAP; Luiz Beling, CEO, Apeel Sciences; Lorena Lourido Gomez, IKEA Food Manager and 12.3 Champion; Corby Kummer, Executive Director of the Food & Society Program at the Aspen Institute and senior editor at The Atlantic; and Danielle Nierenberg, President, Food Tank, with a youth poetry spotlight by Prahlada Rastogi, age 10, winner of the 2025 Stop Food Waste Day Youth Poetry Competition.

Special performance from Antoine L. Smith, Broadway actor and singer (MJ the Musical, Carousel, Miss Saigon, The Color Purple, Cinderella), accompanied by Deah Love Harriott, Broadway music director and conductor (for colored girls… at the Booth Theatre).

The day will begin at 9:00 AM with a delicious thematic breakfast, curated in partnership with Great Performances, accompanied by live music, creating an inspiring atmosphere for meaningful conversations and networking. As attendees arrive, they will have the opportunity to connect with leaders from the food and climate sectors. The event will conclude with a thematic lunch, catered by Great Performances, offering another opportunity to connect and discuss the day’s discussions in a relaxed setting.

This event is by invitation-only. If you would like to request to be considered for an invitation or for press passes, please email Bernard at [email protected].

As part of Climate Week NYC, this event will serve as a platform for collaboration and innovation in the fight against food waste and its climate impact. We look forward to your participation in this critical conversation.

It will also be available via livestream with registration.

Checkout Food Tank’s full lineup of events during Climate Week NYC from Sunday, Sept 21-Friday, Sept 26 by clicking HERE.