In this insightful one-on-one interview, Toronto Climate Week founder Becky Park-Romanovsky sat down with ESG News correspondent Michelle Li to discuss the monumental task of launching the city’s first-ever climate week in 2025. Becky Park-Romanovsky dives into the making of the event and explains that the timing was driven by a strong “Canada-first momentum,” coupled with the urgency of climate work, as she recognized that Canadians often fail to fully recognize the scope of the climate solutions already underway in the country.
Spotlight on Innovation and Inclusion
Toronto is a recognized hub for finance and tech, but Becky and her team are working to position it as a global hub for climate innovation. To accelerate solutions, they’re working to bridge these worlds, bringing major actors into the conversation.
Crucially, the team dedicated significant resources to spotlighting local voices. 50% of the volunteer task force was dedicated specifically to reaching out to grassroots communities, Indigenous leaders, and BIPOC groups to ensure they were invited from the very beginning. The week also featured a pitch competition in partnership with Octia to connect climate startups with potential VCs, and a dedicated panel on Indigenous leadership.
RELATED ARTICLE: Advancing The Circular Economy Key Takeaways on Collaborative Partnerships From The Nest Climate Campus at Climate Week 2025
The Future of Climate Action
Becky’s message to the international business and investor communities is clear: Toronto is the perfect place to expand a climate-focused business. The city offers stable policy, economic support, and a culture that inherently values the environment.
When asked what she’ll be most proud of, Becky quickly pointed to her team. The event is run entirely by 40 dedicated volunteers—powered by their passion for climate and Canada—a testament to the incredible commitment driving the first Toronto Climate Week.
Segment Accreditations
Coverage of Toronto Climate Week NYC was produced by Matt Bird, CEO & Editor-in-Chief of ESG News, with Associate Producer Lee Reisch, Director of Programming & Communications at ESG News.
Follow ESG News on LinkedIn
