In photos: How Penn recognized its fifth annual Climate Week

Between October 14 and 18, the Penn community came together for a series of events highlighting the dangers of climate change and encouraging people to take action to create a more sustainable future. From Penn Farm to College Green, dozens of students, faculty and climate activists led discussions, tours and other activities for Climate Week. This year’s theme was ‘Climate Solutions’, and many of the events focused on helping people find their place in the climate movement.

October 14

For Climate Week’s signature “1.5* Minute Climate Lectures,” 11 undergraduate and graduate students delivered speeches on a variety of environmental topics, from research to lived experiences. Sophomore Chenyao Liu, a Daily Pennsylvania contributor and Penn Environmental Innovations Initiative intern, helped organize the event.

October 15

Professor of Germanic Studies Simon Richter moderated a panel discussion with German climate activists Luisa Neubauer and Helena Marschall in Houston Hall. Neubauer rose to prominence for her leadership in the Fridays for Future movement, encouraging students to skip school to raise awareness about climate change.

October 16

Eight Wharton professors from different departments each gave five-minute lectures on research at the intersection of business and climate. Topics ranged from insurance rates for homeowners in risk-prone areas and integrating residential solar panels to reduce energy insecurity, to how companies can achieve net-zero emissions while remaining profitable.

October 17

In a flagship event for Climate Week, professors and researchers from multiple Penn schools gathered in a tent on College Green. Speakers presented innovative technologies, projects and designs developed to reduce the impact of human activities on the environment and create a more climate-resilient future.

October 18

University Council President Ramanan Raghavendran and philosophy professor Michael Weisberg took part in a ‘fireside chat’ on climate change. Shortly after its inception, the The session was briefly interrupted by Climate Defiance activists. After the protesters were escorted out, the discussion continued as Raghavendran and Weisberg discussed what students should value in taking climate action and the role of both students and universities in creating a sustainable future.

At Penn Farm, tour participants learned about sustainable agriculture and land sovereignty by participating in group discussions and learning about the history of food production in the U.S. and around the world. The site has been growing pesticide-free produce since 2019 and distributing it to members of the Penn and Philadelphia communities.

In keeping with the theme of this year’s Climate Week, many events focus on different practices that students can adopt today to create a better tomorrow. Through more than 50 activities, lectures and tours, presenters emphasized the importance of climate action.