ANNUAL EVENT - ChangeNOW 2026: PLANETARY SOLUTlONS lN A TlME OF CRlSlS

USPA NEWS - As Geopolitical Tensions, Economic Uncertainty, and the Overshooting of Several Planetary Boundaries reshape Global Priorities, accelerating the lmplementation of Solutions for the Planet is no longer seen as merely a Desirable Horizon. It has become a Concrete Roadmap for Action in Economic and Public Debates...

As Geopolitical Tensions, Economic Uncertainty, and the Overshooting of Several Planetary Boundaries reshape Global Priorities, accelerating the lmplementation of Solutions for the Planet is no longer seen as merely a Desirable Horizon. It has become a Concrete Roadmap for Action in Economic and Public Debates.

From March 30 to April 1, 2026, at the Grand Palais in Paris, ChangeNOW brought together an lnternational Ecosystem committed to the Ecological and Social Transition to highlight lnitiatives, lnnovations, and Experiences capable of inspiring New Momentum for Action.

The Key Issues at the Heart of the Summit: New Trade-Offs in the Ecological and Social Transition.
Over Three Days, the Summit brought Together Visions, Expertise and Projects from Around the World to answer the Major Environmental and Societal Challenges of Our Time. Conferences, Meetings and Discussions were notably addressed the following Key lssues:

- Climate Change: Phasing out Fossil Fuels, Territorial Adaptation and developing Science and Nature-Based Solutions.
- Global Governance: Sovereignty, Climate and New Coalitions.
- Disinformation: restoring Trust and protecting our Democracies.
- Science and Climate: the Power of Narratives to mobilize.

Among the Summit’s Key Highlights, the Following Conferences took place:

- The Path to European Sovereignty with Victor Negrescu, Vice-President of the European Parliament; Benjamin Haddad, Minister Delegate for Europe; and Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Honorary President of the Club of Rome and Executive Chair of Earth4All, and Julia Maris, Deputy CEO of ENGIE Group.

- 2026: Can We Finally Phase Out Fossil Fuels? with Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and leading Theorist of
Planetary Boundaries, Kumi Naidoo, President of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, Nick Nuttall, Director of Strategic Communications at We Don’t Have Time, and Nemonte Nenquimo, Waorani Leader, Mother and Guardian of the Amazon Rainforest.

- The French Transition in the Face of Geopolitical Crises with Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Member of Parliament for Pas-de-Calais and Former Minister for Energy Transition, and Olivia Lazard, Affiliated Researcher at the Berggruen Institute and Carnegie Europe.

- The Adaptation Imperative, featuring Satish Kumar, Pioneer of Holistic Ecology and Founder of Schumacher College, and Jean-Laurent Granier, CEO of Generali
FranceBeyond Growth, with Kate Raworth, Economist and Creator of Doughnut Economics, and Rob Hopkins, Founder of the Global Transition Towns Movement.

- Information Integrity, with Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications at the United Nations, and Thibaut Bruttin, Director General of Reporters Without Borders.

- Business within Planetary Boundaries, featuring Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever.

- Who Does AI Serve?, with Albert Moukheiber, Clinical Psychologist and Doctor in Cognitive Neuroscience.

- “Break the Debt Trap”: Financing a Just Transition, with Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation.

Photo Panel:
- Lovelda Vincenzi - Corporate MC & Panel Moderator Lovelda Vincenzi Ltd
- Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim - Activist, President Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad
- Johan Rockström - Director Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
- Paul Polman - Business Leader, Investor, Philanthropist Net Positive

- “Oh les Beaux Jours!” Creating Shared Narratives for Today and Tomorrow, with Thomas Jolly, Artistic Director of Paris 2024, Actor and Theatre Director. Les Rencontres du Papotin - Special ChangeNOW Edition, with Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Photographer, Filmmaker and Environmental Activist.

Beyond these Highlights, ChangeNOW 2026 brought Together Other French and lnternational Figures from a Wide Range of Backgrounds: Political Leaders, Scientists, Entrepreneurs, Artists, Thinkers and Civil Society Voices. This Diversity of Perspectives and Experiences lies at the Heart of the Summit’s Spirit: fostering Dialogue between Visions, confronting ldeas and encouraging Encounters capable of Sparking New Collaborations and lnspiring Action.

Among these Personalities from Diverse Fields: Matt Damon (joining as a Virtual Speaker), Co-Founder of Water.org & WaterEquity and Award-Winning Actor and Producer; H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco; Christiana Figueres, Former Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC; Lewis Pugh, Explorer and UNEP Patron of the Oceans; Luisa Neubauer, German Climate Activist; Elizabeth Wathuti, Kenyan Environmental Activist and Founder of the Green Generation Initiative; Julia Faure, Co-Founder of Loom and Co-President of Mouvement Impact France; Charles Pépin, Philosopher and Author; and Sébastien Bazin, CEO of Accor.

Innovating Within Planetary Boundaries: Towards Sustainable Ways of Living:

- For Three Days, the Grand Palais became a Global Showcase for Solutions that present us with a Different Way to produce, consume and live Within the Limits of what Our Planet can realistically provide.

- An lnternational Selection of Companies from more than 90 Countries were representing Key Sectors such as Energy, the Circular Economy, Sustainable Mobility, Agriculture and Biodiversity. In total, 460 lmpact-Driven Companies and Organizations will present their Solutions.

- In Addition, 160 of them were pitching their Projects to an Audience of Investors and Decision-Makers. From Early-Stage Prototypes to Fast-Growing Companies, these Innovators were presenting Technologies and Business Models that are already Operational and seeking Large-Scale Deployment.

Among the Solutions showcased: Sun-Ways (Solar Panels installed between Railway Tracks), Kikleo (an lntelligent Camera that measures Food Waste in Restaurants), Sparxell (Plant-Based Pigments designed to replace Polluting Dyes), Enerdrape (Geothermal Panels that capture Heat from Parking Structures and Tunnels to heat or cool Buildings), Cyclize (a Process that converts lndustrial Waste and CO? into Gas for lndustry), Genomines (a Technology that grows Plants capable of absorbing Critical metals to recover them with Reduced Mining lmpact), and Baeru Environmental Services (a System combining Sensors and AI to monitor and recover Plastic Waste along Coastlines)...

Visitors were also be able to discover and test the Autonomous Waste-Sorting Robots developed by Antfarm, the Next-Generation Bike Taxis created by Turtle, and the3D-Printed Coral Reef Regeneration Solutions developed by Rrreefs.

Beyond the Conferences and Solutions showcased at the Grand Palais, ChangeNOW 2026 also deployed Several Programs designed to strengthen Key Ecosystems of the Transition. "Women for Change" highlighted Women leading Ecological and Social Transformations. "Africa for Change" brought Together Entrepreneurs, lnvestors and Decision-Makers around Solutions emerging across the African Continent. "Banlieues for Change" brought Together Young People from the French "Banlieues" who are seeking to drive Positive Change for their Communities and for the Planet.

Rethinking the Economy and Finance in the Face of Planetary Boundaries:

- 10,000 Companies and 1,200 lnvestors gathered at the Grand Palais, making ChangeNOW One of the Largest Convenings of Economic Actors committed to the Ecological Transition. The Shift toward Sustainable Economic Models is accelerating Worldwide, driven in particular by impact Startups and a Growing Ecosystem of Specialized lnvestors. At ChangeNOW, Entrepreneurs, lnvestment Funds and Major Corporations came together to identify the Financing, Partnerships and Collaborations needed to scale lmpactful Solutions.

- Reflecting the Rapid Growth of lmpact Finance, 105 Funds have applied to the Funds for Change Program, representing more than $10.9 Billion in Fundraising Ambitions. This Momentum were notably represented at ChangeNOW by Isabelle Combarel, President of the Executive Board at Arkéa Capital; Eva Gladek, Founder and CEO of Metabolic; and Amara Goeree, Sustainability Director, Private Equity at Schroders Capital.

- Leaders from Companies such as Kering, AXA, L’Oréal, Bouygues, KPMG, Saint-Gobain, Salesforce and Schneider Electric shared their Strategies and Best Practices for reducing Environmental lmpact. Discussions were focusing on lntegrating Planetary Boundaries into Economic and Financial Models, Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies, Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration, and Value Chain Engagement.

Source:
"ChangeNOW 2026: Planetary Solutions in a Time of Crisis"
March 30 - April 1, Grand Palais, Paris

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