Washington, DC, just wrapped up its first-ever DC Climate Week, held from April 28 to May 2, in spaces all across the city. The inaugural event brought together thousands of community members, scientists, policymakers, business leaders, and nonprofit organizations to share knowledge and innovations in climate solutions and showcase DC’s leadership in sustainability. Casey Trees was proud to sponsor and participate throughout the week.
Over five days, more than 3,500 participants engaged in 140+ events, including workshops, panels, exhibitions, and networking sessions, many of which were free and open to all. The week was organized around five central themes: climate innovation and technology, policy and advocacy, finance and economy, nature, and urban development and mobility. Each day was hosted at a different hub across the city, making it easy for attendees to participate and connect.
The week kicked off with a theme of “Climate Innovation and Technology” and keynote speakers Sir Andrew Steer, who emphasized the urgent need for a more proactive and human-centered climate movement, and Bill Nye the Science Guy, who highlighted the importance of comprehensive energy solutions and stressed the need for political engagement and public relations in advancing climate action.
Throughout the week, Casey Trees was proud to share some of our work and community efforts with partners. On day two, policy and advocacy took center stage at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library, featuring discussions on renewable energy, green infrastructure, and environmental justice. Attendees also learned about the city’s tree canopy through “The Wonders of DC Trees,” a traveling exhibit with our partners at the Zenith Community Arts Foundation (ZCAF). The exhibit showcases eight informational panels on DC’s tree canopy accompanied by original artworks using tree themes, including tree sculptures, paintings, and mixed media. It’s on display at MLK Library until May 29th.
The final day of DC Climate Week focused on urban development and took place at Sycamore & Oak in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Southeast DC. Our Director of Education, Melinda Peters, participated in the afternoon panel, “Case Studies From the Frontlines of Urban Development in DC.” During her presentation, Melinda discussed how Casey Trees plans and plants for impactful urban greening, emphasizing the use of GIS mapping to identify areas in the city that lack adequate tree coverage. She also explained how we prioritize our planting efforts by considering environmental factors, human needs, and demographic data.
Additionally, our partners at ZCAF showcased their mobile woodshop and hosted a demonstration for nearby middle school students. The mobile woodshop aims to teach woodworking and carpentry skills to a new generation, focusing on sustainable practices and educating students about the environments from which the wood is sourced, as much of it comes from urban wood reuse programs.
DC Climate Week’s success was driven by a volunteer-led effort and a commitment to inclusivity, innovation, and solidifying DC’s role as a national model for climate resilience and community engagement. The momentum doesn’t stop here – the energy and ideas sparked this week will continue growing as we work together for a greener, more sustainable city.
