Climate Week Began in Medellin, Focus of the Global Debate on Climate Change

For the first time, Climate Week arrives in Medellin, Colombia and Latin America, marking a global platform that connects actors, ideas, and solutions to accelerate climate action. The event commenced on September 28 and will span until October 10, 2026, featuring conferences, innovation labs, cultural activations, and numerous events led by various organizations.

This week-long gathering will bring together 13,200 attendees from 30 countries, including government officials, company representatives, academia, organizations, communities, and citizens. The shared goal is to promote conversations, alliances, and solutions to climate challenges.

Medellin was selected as the host city due to its reputation for reinventing itself, becoming a Latin American benchmark for urban innovation, territorial transformation, and connectivity. The city's organizers believe that sharing experiences will enable learning from others and lead to a regional climate conversation with global impact.

The mayor of Medellin, Federico Gutierrez, opened the event, highlighting the city's achievements such as replacing hard surfaces with permeable ones, planting trees, and implementing sustainable urban drainage systems. These initiatives have successfully reduced temperatures and prevented flooding, setting an example for other cities to follow.

Notable guests attending the event include mayors from Cali, Valledupar, Bucaramanga, the mayor of Miami, the British ambassador to Colombia, and representatives of international organizations. The week-long Climate Week Medellin aims to connect local capacities with a global conversation, fostering collaboration and action to combat the environmental crisis.