Grist NYC Climate Week

At Climate Week NYC 2024, Grist, in partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative, hosted a live storytelling event at the Hilton Midtown to celebrate the 2024 Grist 50 list—an annual recognition of emerging climate leaders across the U.S. Produced in collaboration with Back Pocket Media, the event featured personal narratives from honorees, aiming to humanize climate action through compelling storytelling.

“Best event I went to at NYC Climate Week”

—Head of Climate Data | Watershed

Clients

Grist x Clinton Global Initiative

Challenges

1. Break the Conference Model: Depart from traditional conference formats to create a more engaging and emotionally resonant experience.
2. Create Emotional Imprints: Ensure that the event leaves a lasting emotional impact on attendees, inspiring continued climate action.

Solution

1. Narrative Over Information: Shifted focus from data-driven presentations to personal stories that highlight individual journeys and experiences in climate activism.
2. Experience Over Formality: Designed an event atmosphere that encourages connection and reflection, moving away from formal proceedings to a more intimate and relatable setting.

Results

1. Positive Feedback: Attendees praised the event for its unique approach, with comments such as “Best event I went to at NYC Climate Week” from the Head of Climate Data at Watershed.
2. Client Satisfaction: Grist’s Senior Event Manager expressed gratitude for Back Pocket Media’s role in executing a complex event on a tight timeline, indicating a strong partnership for future collaborations.

“We’re incredibly grateful to the Back Pocket team for helping us pull off a complex event on an extremely compressed timeline…We’ve worked with Back Pocket twice now, and we’ll enthusiastically continue to partner with them in the future.”

—Senior Event Manager | Grist

Reflection

Humor, personal storytelling and the opportunity to see the people behind their titles can motivate optimism and critical climate discussions.