Climate change is a global puzzle—one that no single team or country can solve alone. In 2025, some exciting stories about how teams worldwide are coming together show us the power of collaboration to fight climate change in practical, real-world ways.
1. Joining Forces Across Value Chains to Slash Emissions
Imagine the supply chain as a giant network of cause and effect—where what one company does impacts many others. That’s why big players like EY and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development stress that businesses must collaborate across their entire value chains to reduce greenhouse gases effectively. According to Dr. Matthew Bell from EY, about 80% of emissions come from these value chains, so teamwork here isn’t optional—it’s essential. AI is stepping in as a game changer to analyze emissions hotspots and speed up decarbonization efforts.
2. California and Brazil: Bridging Continents for Climate Partnerships
The US state of California and Brazil, home to the Amazon, have expanded their climate partnership. This cross-border cooperation helps both protect forests, cut pollution, and strengthen economies through shared strategies. Their joint efforts include carbon pricing, boosting clean transportation like electric vehicles and better public transit, and safeguarding 30% of nature by 2030. This partnership highlights how subnational governments—meaning states and provinces, not just countries—can form effective alliances for climate progress.
3. Hackathons Fueling Urban Climate Innovation with AI
In New York City, the 2025 AI x City Climate Action Hackathon brought together city leaders, tech innovators, and sustainability experts. Teams from Peru and Algeria won awards for AI-driven solutions tackling energy poverty and urban climate challenges. Their work shows how collaboration between local governments and tech teams can create scalable, data-powered tools addressing real community issues, from energy access to pollution control.
4. Academia Joining the Climate Collaboration Wave
Dartmouth College has taken a community-focused approach, blending research, education, and local partnerships to tackle climate issues unique to cold regions. Their Climate Collaborative program unites faculty, students, and local stakeholders to enhance carbon capture on ski lands and improve snowmaking predictions—two concrete steps demonstrating how academic institutions can drive place-based climate action.
What We Can Learn from These Stories
- Collaboration matters: Whether between businesses, regions, or disciplines, working together opens new doors.
- Technology helps: AI and data tools are fast becoming essential allies in understanding and acting on climate challenges.
- Local meets global: Solutions rooted in community needs, paired with international partnerships, create solid pathways forward.
By teaming up across borders, sectors, and specialties, these real-world efforts show a hopeful blueprint for accelerating climate action today.
After all, solving climate change is a team sport — and every player counts.
References:
- https://www.ey.com/en_gl/newsroom/2025/09/ey-and-wbcsd-call-for-global-collaboration-across-value-chains-to-speed-up-efforts-to-cut-greenhouse-gas-emissions
- https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/09/23/california-and-brazil-ink-new-climate-partnership-to-cut-pollution-protect-public-health-strengthen-economy/
- https://www.rff.org/news/press-releases/salata-institute-and-resources-for-the-future-launch-the-climate-related-financial-and-macroeconomic-risk-initiative/
- https://www.globalcovenantofmayors.org/press/winners-2025-ai-city-climate-action-hackathon-at-climate-week-nyc/
- https://home.dartmouth.edu/news/2025/09/dartmouth-leads-2025-climate-week-nyc
- https://unfccc.int/news/building-transparency-for-climate-action-global-training-programme-expands-reach
- https://www.concordia.ca/news/stories/2025/09/23/concordia-announces-new-climate-action-partnership-with-the-transition-accelerator.html
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-025-02447-2
