Driving action together: Winrock International at Climate Week NYC and CGI
Winrock International leaders engaged deeply in two influential global gatherings in September — Climate Week NYC and the Clinton Global Initiative’s annual meeting — sharing Winrock’s evidence-based learning, experience and collaborative approach during critical discussions on how to accelerate climate action and scale partnerships.
Under the theme “Power On,” Climate Week challenged leaders to move beyond promises and activate the full force of innovation, investment and collaboration needed to deliver a just and sustainable transition. That focus on practical, inclusive solutions reflects Winrock’s own approach.
“The communities where Winrock works — from rural U.S. towns to smallholder farms in Africa and Asia — are on the frontlines of climate change,” said Winrock International President and CEO Maqsoda Maqsodi. “Together with our partners, we are building solutions that last.”
The stakes have never been higher. Climate change threatens 11–14 percent of global GDP by mid-century, but keeping warming below 2°C reduces potential damage to just 4 percent. For vulnerable communities and smallholder farmers, climate shocks can wipe out decades of progress, fuel migration and strain fragile systems. Winrock’s work demonstrates that resilience can drive economic opportunity — through climate-smart agriculture, forest protection, clean energy access, emission reductions and climate finance that helps communities, businesses and governments adapt and thrive.
Advancing practical solutions at Climate Week
Winrock leaders took part in a range of Climate Week dialogues focused on actionable solutions. In a private discussion with the Atlantic Council, Bayer, and Howden, Winrock explored piloting a new climate risk analysis tool for the agriculture sector — a direct outcome of a joint Winrock–Atlantic Council convening earlier this year. The Climate Week conversation centered on de-risking regenerative agriculture for farmers and investors, underscoring the value of applied science and shared innovation.
At the Nature Hub, Julie Nash, Winrock’s director of Ecosystem Services, joined a Wildlife Conservation Society panel on jurisdictional REDD+ baselines, sharing lessons on ensuring high-integrity forest carbon crediting that can unlock investment and strengthen local governance.
Meanwhile, Winrock’s Sustainability Services team hosted the first consultative workshop on the Contribution Framework, a new methodology designed to give investors and the public a clearer picture of corporate decarbonization leadership. Developed with Winrock’s support, the framework will officially debut at COP30 in Brazil.
Winrock co-sponsored the Regenerative Systems Summit with Why Regenerative, Arva, Pur, and Agricarbon, which focused on improving transparency and integrity across agricultural supply chains. Matt Silveira of Winrock moderated a panel on evolving standards, emphasizing the importance of consistency, data and collaboration.
Also at Climate Week, ACR at Winrock International’s Brad Kahn moderated a pair of powerful conversations with businesses and other important actors highlighting the tools and capital needed to scale nature-based solutions to climate change. Founded in 1996 as the first private voluntary greenhouse gas registry in the world, ACR has near 30 years of expertise in ensuring carbon credit quality and a proven track record in innovation and continuous improvement.
“Climate week provided some much needed, renewed optimism and momentum to take climate action,” said Colin Quinn, Winrock’s portfolio director for Environment & Climate. “Looking ahead to COP30 [the U.N.’s annual climate conference coming up in Brazil], it’s clear we need to build on that momentum to look beyond traditional partnerships, be bold, and meet the moment with the urgency deserved.”
Commitment and collaboration at the Clinton Global Initiative
The CGI 2025 annual meeting theme, which also took place in New York City in September during Climate Week, was “What’s Next?,” and brought together leaders from business, government and civil society to address urgent global challenges through actionable collaborative solutions. Joining as a member of CGI for the first time, Winrock leaders announced three bold new Commitments to Action:
- Advancing regenerative agriculture in the U.S. Midwest;
- Supporting resilience for vulnerable garment workers in Bangladesh; and
- Increasing access to improved maternal healthcare in Arkansas.
During CGI, Pete Huff, director of the Wallace Center at Winrock International, facilitated the Domestic Agriculture Table as part of the Climate Working Group convening, and Patricia McCall, Winrock’s chief strategy & growth officer, participated in the Innovative Finance Working Group, contributing Winrock’s experience in aligning financial flows with climate and resilience outcomes.
Building on four decades of collaborative learning and outcomes
As Winrock marks its 40th anniversary, its contributions at Climate Week and CGI reflect its longstanding commitment to linking local innovation with global systems change. Across its portfolio, Winrock continues to advance evidence-based, community-centered approaches — from regenerative agriculture and carbon market integrity to clean energy and climate finance — helping partners and communities build lasting resilience in a changing world.