As New York state grapples with record-breaking heatwaves and devastating floods, Siena College hosted the “Earth’s Cry, Humanity’s Call” symposium to address the pressing issue of climate change.

The event brought together global leaders, students and policymakers to discuss strategies for mitigating the impacts of climate change.

What You Need To Know

  • The Earth's Cry, Humanity's Call event focused on climate change discussions with global leaders

  • The state aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and 85% by 2050
  • Recent floods and heatwaves highlight the urgency of addressing climate change in New York 

  • The symposium stressed individual actions and civic engagement to combat climate change        

The symposium featured addresses from prominent figures, including a letter from Pope Francis and a keynote speech by the U.N. secretary general.

Former New York state Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos highlighted the alignment across various sectors in recognizing the climate crisis.

“Everyone is aligned that we have a problem,” Seggos stated.

New York has set ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and 85% by 2050. The initiatives are crucial as experts note the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, particularly hurricanes along the East Coast.

The symposium also underscored the importance of individual action and civic engagement.

“It could be something as simple as recycling or turning off lights,” said student Paris DeFilippis.

As New York faces these challenges, events like this symposium can play a vital role in educating and mobilizing communities toward sustainable solutions.