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A Cross-Border Approach to Climate Action: PNW Climate Week 2026

Climate change doesn’t stop at the border, so neither should climate action. PNW Climate Week brings the Pacific Northwest region together for a week of community-led events—open and accessible for anyone to host and attend—to turn awareness into action.

/ 2 mins / SparxTeam

Climate disruption is here. This summer, as we face what could be an especially difficult wildfire season, that reality is clearer than ever. Fire, smoke, heat, and drought are increasingly threatening our safety, our economy, and the places we care about most.

Climate change affects us at every level—individual, community, regional, and global. This means our conversations, solutions, and actions need to hit all these layers. And that is precisely what PNW Climate Week aims to address, reaching beyond city lines, state/province limits, and national borders to connect communities and climate solutions.

Taking place on July 13–19, 2026, PNW Climate Week is the only cross-border climate week in North America, bringing together entrepreneurs, researchers, workers, students, businesses, artists, community organizations, and policymakers from across Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia for action-oriented events held in seven cities. This unique format creates space to share ideas and build partnerships that help tackle challenges no single community or sector can solve.

Last year’s event lineup included everything from tours of clean energy projects and conversations about sustainable aviation and maritime innovation to community-led discussions on climate resilience, environmental justice, and workforce development.

This year, events in Vancouver, British Columbia, have some serious cross-sectoral reach, ranging from arts and entertainment to cleantech and carbon management, all with the purpose of helping communities take tangible climate action. These events are hosted by lead city sponsor UBC Centre for Climate and Business Solutions, as well as BCIT, SFU, and local businesses, and sponsored by the UBC Centre for Climate and Business Solutions and ZEIC.

To kickstart the week, PNW Climate Week Vancouver (BC) will have an Opening Reception at Langara College on Monday, July 13th at 5–7:30pm. Open to all, the reception calls the community to gather and engage with other climate professionals, for- and non-profit organizations, community groups, and the general public. 

The reception will include a panel about community in climate action, featuring the following speakers:

●      Seth Klein, author of A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency

●      Aaron Joe, Founder of Salish Soils

●      Ralf Nielsen, Director of Enterprise Sustainability, TransLink

●      Jiaying Zhao and Elizabeth Dunn, co-authors of Leave the Lights On

The panel will be moderated by Chloë Fraser, a communications leader, facilitator, and storytelling consultant.

Climate change may be global, but we’re building the future from the local level up, together. 

Register now to spark lasting impact in your community: https://pnw.climate-week.org

Sparx is excited to take part in this game-changing movement. We hope to see you at some of the events taking place in Vancouver!

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