What It’s Going to Take to Win: Climate Week with Elizabeth Yeampierre

For our first episode of our Climate Week in NYC special, we talk with Elizabeth Yeampierre, Executive Director of UPROSE, about the power of community care and the significance of local environmental justice efforts in the national and global fight for climate justice. Elizabeth shares her thoughts on how disengagement with local community organizers during Climate Week is a missed opportunity to build deep alignment in a moment that requires people on the ground shaping and influencing the path to climate justice. Tune in to our conversation to learn about the accomplishments that UPROSE has championed, made possible by investing in a culture of collaboration. Guest: Elizabeth (she/ella) is an internationally recognized Puerto Rican attorney of African and Indigenous ancestry. Her organization, UPROSE, is Brooklyn's oldest Puerto Rican community-based organization. She is also the Co-Chair of a national alliance called Climate Justice Alliance and the co-founder of #OurPowerPRnyc. She is a long-time advocate and trailblazer for community organizing around just, sustainable development, environmental justice, and community-led climate adaptation and community resiliency in Sunset Park. 2026 CLIMATE WEEK IN NYC: "What It's Going to Take to Win" is a three-episode podcast mini-series highlighting communities building people- and justice-centered solutions even as they continue to face threats to their livelihoods under current political conditions. Climate Week NYC is one of the world's biggest climate events, bringing together business leaders, philanthropy, nonprofit, and grassroots groups. We’re using this opportunity to wade through the noise and hear from the people at the forefront of the environmental justice movement on what it will take to win on climate justice. Special thanks to The Solutions Project for sponsoring our inaugural Climate Week Special. They are a critical partner in our powerful solutions-based storytelling, and their support helps us continue elevating trusted community leaders advancing environmental justice to audiences across the country and the world.