The BKMC team was deeply honored to welcome its Co-chair Ban Ki-moon and valued Board Members to New York during UN General Assembly 79 and New York Climate Week 2024. Our CEO Monika Froehler, COO Katre Olmez, and Communications Lead Katharina Choe, attended many insightful engagements and high-level meetings and gained valuable insights, reinforcing the BKMC’s mission to tackle the climate crisis, promote sustainable education, and empower women and youth around the world.

Kicking off her engagements, on 24 September, 2024 CEO of the BKMC Monika Froehler participated in a THINK-table Dinner on Climate Action in Food Systems organized by Clim-Eat in partnership with the Trafigura Foundation. She led a discussion on “Beyond Business as Usual: How to Support Radical Ideas for Food Systems Transformation?”.  Together with other leaders, solutions for tomorrow and how to radically change food systems were identified.

In addition, she attended with other high-level leaders, such as Former UK Prime Minister Theresa May and COP26 President Alok Sharma, the Nizami Ganjavi International Center Gala Dinner at the Harvard Club. In-depth conversations focused on the complex interconnections between climate, energy, migration, and modern slavery.

On September 25, 2024, Co-chair Ban Ki-moon spoke at Global Citizen Now and urged world leaders to reform the global financial system to tackle the world’s biggest challenges – end poverty, adapt to the climate, and more. As a result, he endorsed the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and made a call to world leaders and citizens to join him.

Co-chair Ban Ki-moon and CEO Monika Froehler had the great opportunity of meeting with H.E. Lazarus Chakwera, President of Malawi, H.E. Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, and CEO of Global Citizen Hugh Evans, and more. With H.E. Mia Mottley, they discussed the Bridgetown Initiative, which focuses on reshaping global financial frameworks for climate resilience and sustainable development.

They also had an insightful conversation with Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, on advancing SDG education in both formal and informal learning spaces, as well as the team of the Fossil Fuel Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, which presents a transformative plan to transition from oil, gas, and coal in a manner that is fair and inclusive.

The highlight of the mission trip to New York was the BKMC Board Meeting, which provided a fantastic opportunity to showcase the organization’s work to its esteemed board members. It was held at the premises of the BKMC’s sister office, the Ban Ki-moon Foundation in New York. CEO Monika Froehler led the Board Meeting, presenting the impactful work of the BKMC across its key portfolios on climate action, education, and the empowerment of women and youth. She also highlighted key developments from the past six months, including notable moments like BKMC Youth AgriChampion Brian Kithinji presenting  the Youth AgriChampion Demand Paper to the Hon. Ildephonse Musafiri, Rwandan Minister of Agriculture at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2024. COO Katre Olmez gave a comprehensive summary of the organization’s financials. Co-Chair Ban Ki-moon thanked the BKMC team and said: “The achievements reflect the dedication of the team.“ He furthermore underlined that it is his personal and political priority to listen and act for the most vulnerable.

Last but not least, the BKMC delegation attended the event “Game-Changers for Climate Education and Action” by the World’s Largest Lesson on the future of digitalization of education by NetApp Data Explorers/Microsoft and Minecraft Education at the Global House in Central Park. The event showcased how young people and education are driving climate action and shared real-world examples of how education leads to climate action.

All of these events seamlessly aligned with the mission of the BKMC, and the days spent in New York served as a source of inspiration, a reminder, and a powerful motivation to continue striving for a sustainable future and the implementation of the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement.