Resilience, data, and partnerships

Across hundreds of conversations among businesses, governments, financial institutions, Indigenous leaders, and civil society organizations at Climate Week NYC, one message stood out: climate, rights, and nature need to become business and policy priorities instead of niche issues.  

FSC participated in events throughout the week to highlight responsible forest stewardship as an essential climate solution, emphasize the importance of Indigenous Peoples’ leadership and sustainable finance, and strengthen partnerships to scale up our impact.  

“The best measure of a healthy forest is a thriving community," said FSC Indigenous Foundation Director Minnie Degawan, during a Nature4Climate Nature Hub panel, sending a clear signal that we must not think about nature and people in siloes.  

The FSC delegation shared three main takeaways for forests and the people who depend on them. 

1. Resilience is shared responsibility 

Building resilience to a rapidly changing climate requires shared investment. Forest communities who have done the least to cause the climate crisis are often bearing the greatest burden of adapting to its impacts.  

A panel with IDH, Root Capital, Satelligence, Blue Marble, and FSC at the Nature4Climate Nature Hub explored this challenge. Participants emphasized that climate resilience depends on connecting trusted data, certification, and finance so that responsibility and investment are shared across the value chain, helping to de-risk the transition for communities. 

Consumers also have a role to play. At an event hosted by the NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business, GlobeScan, and Sustainable Brands, FSC Chief Programme Officer Ria Stout participated alongside representatives from IKEA, Mastercard, Amazon, and Unilever to explore how consumer demand is driving the sustainability agenda. Sustainability-marketed products are growing 4.9 times faster than conventionally marketed products across 36 consumer packaged goods categories, according to NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business’ Sustainable Market Share Index. However, affordability remains a barrier to wider adoption.  

2. Better data is needed to connect climate, nature, and business 

Data emerged as a recurring theme across Climate Week discussions.  As sustainability reporting requirements and climate disclosures increase, companies need data and evidence that connect sustainability outcomes with business priorities.  

Sarah Billig, FSC US President, moderated a panel hosted by the International Sustainable Forestry Coalition (ISFC) on building trusted pathways for climate, nature, and ecosystem markets. Panelists discussed the importance of interoperability for data, so different systems can align on core metrics, have standard interpretative rules between platforms, and consolidate disclosures.  

For example, the State of Forest Carbon 2026 report launched during Climate Week NYC, noting that nearly 80% of tropical forest carbon loss results from degradation, but as degraded forests often remain standing, traditional monitoring systems do not detect them.   

Certification remains a valuable tool, but companies need more accessible and interoperable data to demonstrate their contribution to nature goals and Scope 3 emissions reductions. 

3. Partnerships and sustainable finance are essential for impact 

The climate crisis is too big a challenge for any actor to solve alone. 

FSC North America and the FSC Indigenous Foundation brought together representatives from environmental, rights, research, finance, and community-focused organizations for a conversation on how forests, food, climate, biodiversity, freshwater, rights, and community well-being can be addressed more effectively together.  

Indigenous Peoples’ leadership was central in Climate Week discussions. “Forests are more than carbon sinks. Carbon is, in fact, a co-benefit. For Indigenous Peoples, forests are home and relatives,” said Minnie Degawan at an event hosted by the Environmental Defense Fund and Emergent.  

Direct climate funding for Indigenous Peoples and local communities was another key topic. Despite exceeding the COP26 Forest Tenure Pledge target with USD 2.35 billion committed, Climate Week discussions emphasized that success depends not just on how much funding is provided, but on decision-making power and direct access to finance. 

The Forest & Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP) launched the Forest Finance Roadmap Progress Report during Climate Week, highlighting progress toward closing the USD 66.8 billion forest finance gap. It also shared growing support for the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, a blended finance initiative launched at COP30 to reward countries for conserving tropical rainforests. The UK announced a GBP 400 million commitment to the Facility during the week, adding to the momentum.  

Governments are crucial partners for translating commitments into action. At the Governors' Climate and Forests Task Force (GCF Task Force) panel, Sharon London, Partnerships Director at FSC Investments & Partnerships, joined governors, universities, NGOs and foundations to explore how governments can work with communities, NGOs, investors and the private sector to unlock finance, close capacity gaps, and turn climate commitments into action. Speakers emphasized that successful partnerships are built on trust, long-term relationships, and understanding of local realities. 

“Partnerships are how we connect policy, finance, certification, and the people working on the ground,” said Sharon London, reflecting on the event.  

There is growing interest from local governments in translating climate commitments into practical actions through partnerships, finance, and tools such as FSC certification. FSC and the GCF Task Force are advancing a letter of intent to build a platform for collaboration, joint projects, fundraising, knowledge-sharing, and policy engagement. 

What comes next 

Climate Week NYC confirmed that the appetite for collaboration remains strong and certification continues to be valued as a useful tool for delivering climate and nature outcomes. As discussions became increasingly focused on implementation, FSC will continue its role as a convener to bring together Indigenous Peoples, businesses, NGOs, civil society, and investors around shared solutions. 

Looking ahead to CBD COP17 and UNFCCC COP31, FSC will continue the conversations started in New York around resilience, data interoperability and partnerships for impact.