Elena Garofalo is the Associate Vice President for Foundation Relations and Luis Calzadilla is the Senior Director of External Relationships and Engagement at the New York Botanical Garden.

---

London Climate Action Week began with a powerful reminder of why the gathering matters. As temperatures climbed to a record-setting 101°F for June, some events were canceled, dress codes were revised to help people cope with the heat, and parts of the underground system experienced major disruptions. Across the city, conversations centered on how London was needing to quickly adapt to conditions many felt it was not prepared to face. Yet even amid the extreme heat, thousands of leaders, practitioners, scientists, and advocates came together for London Climate Action Week to confront an increasingly undeniable reality: climate change is no longer a future threat—it is reshaping our cities, communities, and daily lives right now. 

For an institution dedicated to the study and conservation of plants and fungi, the connection was impossible to miss. As Londoners and visitors alike sought relief under trees, in shaded parks, and among green spaces, we were reminded of a message we brought to every conversation during the week: plants and fungi are not only essential to healthy ecosystems, but also indispensable partners in addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development. 

As part of the efforts to strengthen the New York Botanical Garden’s international relationships, a delegation led by our President and CEO, Jennifer Bernstein, traveled to London to participate in a range of activities during London Climate Action Week. Throughout the week, we had the opportunity to exchange ideas with representatives from governments, philanthropic organizations, companies, scientific institutions, and civil society organizations in high-profile forums such as the Climate Innovation Forum, The Rights and Nature Hub, Nature Day at Kew, A Night for Nature, co-hosted by AWS and the Natural History Museum, the Food Tank Chief Sustainability Officer Summit, and The Future of Conservation Leadership: Investing in the People Delivering Local Climate and Biodiversity Action, among others. 

These conversations, and many others, reflected a shared recognition that addressing climate change and biodiversity loss will require unprecedented collaboration across disciplines, sectors, and geographies. For NYBG, London Climate Action Week provided an opportunity not only to contribute scientific expertise but also to forge new relationships and deepen existing partnerships with organizations that share our commitment to evidence-based climate and conservation action grounded in the power and potential of plants and fungi. 

Building partnerships for action 

As one of the world’s leading institutions dedicated to plant and fungal science, NYBG has a responsibility to contribute to these global conversations. The week also provided an opportunity to expand our international reach by engaging with organizations closely aligned with our mission, strengthening existing partnerships while cultivating new strategic relationships. 

One particularly significant milestone was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The agreement formalizes and strengthens a longstanding relationship between two of the world’s leading botanical institutions and establishes a framework for future collaboration in scientific research, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, collections stewardship, and public engagement. It also reflects a shared commitment to cultivating the next generation of botanists, mycologists, and conservation leaders who will be essential to addressing environmental challenges in the decades ahead. 

When nature is part of the solution 

The conversations initiated and strengthened in London are part of a broader effort to advance plant and fungal science as a cornerstone of climate action. As the impacts of climate change become increasingly visible around the world, one reality is becoming impossible to ignore: nature is not only experiencing the consequences of climate change but is also one of our greatest opportunities to address them. 

For NYBG, London Climate Action Week reinforced both the urgency of this work and the importance of collaboration. Through scientific research, conservation, education, and strategic partnerships, we will continue working to ensure that plant and fungi-based solutions are recognized, advanced, and scaled to meet the challenges ahead. Next stop: Climate Week NYC, followed by CBD COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia. We look forward to continuing the conversation.