About this Event
The morning of Monday, September 21st, join Food Tank, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Food Planet Prize, NRDC, Restaurant Technologies, CookUnity, and Mill at WNYC-NPR Studios’ The Greene Space in New York City.
Food waste is one of the world's most overlooked climate challenges, and one of its greatest opportunities. The morning will explore how reducing food loss and waste can cut greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen food security, and build more resilient food systems at the city, state, and global levels. Featuring leaders from across policy, business, hospitality, and civil society, this event will highlight practical solutions and bold ideas to accelerate action.
Date: Monday, September 21st, 2026
Location: WNYC Studios' The Greene Space, 44 Charlton Street, New York, NY 10014
Time: 9:00AM - 12:00PM. Including live musical performance and a delicious breakfast to kick off the event and a networking lunch following the program.
Confirmed speakers and performers include:
- María Bengochea, Director of Sustainability & Standards, CookUnity
- Veleké Brown, CEO, E-RoadMap and Velloris, and Executive Director, E-RoadMap Corporation
- Cullen Curth, New York City-based Pianist, Music Director, and Conductor
- Julie Gehrki, President, Walmart Foundation and Senior Vice President, Philanthropy, Walmart Inc.
- Diana Geseking, Chief Legal Officer, Restaurant Technologies
- Robert Jones, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, Industry Leadership, and Impact, The Culinary Institute of America
- Matthew Jozwiak, Founder and CEO, Rethink Food
- Madeline Keating, Senior Advocate, Nature, NRDC
- Martin Krause, Director, Climate Change Division, UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
- Nathan Lucrezio, Broadway Actor, Singer, Dancer, and Recording Artist
- Adalberto Maluf Filho, National Secretary for Urban Environment, Water Resources and Environmental Quality, Brazil’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
- Danielle Nierenberg, President, Food Tank
- Emily Norford, Nominations Manager, Food Planet Prize
- Chef Emily Peck, Plant-Based Chef and Holistic Nutritionist
- Lou Pieh, Head of Federal Affairs, Mill
- Gwyneth Rampton, Vice President of Sustainability, Compass Group USA
- U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas, Oregon’s 6th Congressional District
- Tia Schwab, Senior Manager, U.S. Food Systems, C40 Cities
- Jackie Suggitt, Senior Director of Waste & Circularity, Walmart
- Sydney Thayer, Pollution Prevention Specialist, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
and many more to be announced soon!
Limited capacity. Join the waitlist to be considered for an in-person invitation!
Want to bypass the waitlist?
Become a Food Tank member today and receive tickets to the 2026 Climate Week NYC Summit of your choice: FoodTank.com/Join.
The Food Planet Prize is the world's largest environmental award dedicated to transforming the global food system. Established by the Curt Bergfors Foundation in 2019, the Prize recognizes bold, scalable innovations that have the potential to help feed a growing population while protecting the planet. Nominations are accepted all year round.
Thank you to our 2026 event co-hosts: American Farmland Trust; Amy’s Kitchen; Arrell Food Institute; Bel US; Bonterra; CARE; CookUnity; Diestel Family Ranch; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; Food Planet Prize; Future Food Institute; Global Traceability Framework for Beef and Leather; Groundswell; Halter; Handsome Brook Farms; James Beard Foundation; Mill; New York City Mayor’s Office of Food Policy; New York University; Northstar Recycling; NRDC; Once Upon a Farm; Organic Center; Organic Valley; Organic Voices; Pilot Light; RAAPID; Restaurant Technologies; Rockefeller Foundation; Rodale Institute; Stonyfield; Strong Roots; Support + Feed; United Nations Environment Programme; Whole Foods Market.
See Food Tank’s complete Climate Week NYC 2026 schedule HERE.
Event venue & nearby stays
The Greene Space - WNYC NPR Studios, 44 Charlton Street New, New York, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.