With aligned movement groups, the Just Transition Alliance had a very full and fruitful New York City Climate Week experience in September 2026. Photo credit: Nona Chai and Lara Aumann

During New York City Climate Week (NYCCW), Just Transition Alliance members José Bravo, Nona Chai, and Lara Aumann contributed to several gatherings. As we continue our countdown to the organization’s 30-year anniversary next year, we provide some brief reflections on this annual September convergence and why it matters for the just transition work ahead.

United Nations General Assembly

JTA was honored to attend on behalf of the Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice via an invitation from UN Secretary General’s office, Selwin Hart. The United Nations General Assembly provided an important discussion space; however, the Assembly has a long way to go toward practicing robust, participatory processes. We call for real, meaningful, and equitable observer participation. The stakes are high, as this moment is a crucial time for the Belém-Antalya Mechanism, which must be operationalized at COP31 and centered in the next Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels conference.

Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels Funder Briefing

At this gathering, the Just Transition Alliance, US Climate Action Network, Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, and Indigenous Environmental Network shared perspectives on the global Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels (TAFF) process. April 2026 marked the first international convening explicitly focused on a just transition away from fossil fuels.

We heard from folks who were on the ground in Santa Marta, Colombia, for the conference and from those who have engaged in planning processes in the lead up to Santa Marta: José Bravo, Jaron Brown, Thomas Joseph, Ife Kilimanjaro, and Nona Chai. 

We are carving more political space for our movements in the TAFF process. We demand that those most harmed must guide the responses to climate collapse, fossil-fuel induced violence, and all interconnected struggles toward just transition. 

The Just Transition Alliance’s 30th Anniversary Lead-up Event

In case you didn’t know, the Just Transition Alliance (JTA) turns 30 next year in 2027! At NYCCW, friends and allies from across our movements came together to celebrate the origin of the JTA, what the organization stands for, and what staff members and aligned groups hope for the future. We reaffirmed our commitment to dedicating our energies toward enacting local, regenerative economies of care for all that are guided by just transition principles and Indigenous just transition principles. 

The event had powerhouse speakers: Richard Moore and José Bravo, who helped to found the Just Transition Alliance and Suzanne Almanza, with PODER Austin, who was also part of the First National People of Color Summit alongside Richard and José. Alson on the panel were Jaron Brown, from Grassroots Global Justice, Thomas Joseph, from Indigenous Environmental Network, and Ife Kilimanjaro, from US Climate Action Network. Panelists spoke about the deep relationship building that JTA has engaged in over the years to bring together transformative movements and how this past and ongoing work can inform future organizing. 

Stay tuned for JTA’s 30th anniversary in 2027! We have many move events and actions to come!