This article is also available in Italian / Questo articolo è disponibile anche in italiano

The year 2025 marks a crucial moment in the ecological transition, which has now entered a mature phase—despite ongoing uncertainties stemming from global political instability. It also commemorates the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement.

To celebrate this milestone, the French capital will host ChangeNOW, a global summit dedicated to exploring and promoting solutions that accelerate the ecological transition. Organized by the namesake social enterprise, which has been active since 2017, the event promotes concrete actions and solutions to foster a more environmentally and socially sustainable economy.

The summit will bring together 10,000 companies and 1,200 investors from 140 countries, who will present over 1,000 potential solutions and innovations spanning various aspects of sustainability, including clean energy, biodiversity, and the circular economy. Approximately 40,000 participants are expected to attend the 2025 edition.

The event will take place in Paris from 24 to 26 April, at the Grand Palais, a historic steel-and-glass structure built for the 1900 Universal Exhibition and located in the heart of the city.

Who’s Attending ChangeNOW 2025?

During the exhibition, numerous conferences will feature internationally renowned speakers such as Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and the first woman to serve in that role; Laurent Fabius, former French Prime Minister; Patricia Espinosa, diplomat and former United Nations Climate Chief; and Diána Ürge-Vorsatz, climate scientist, professor of environmental science, and vice-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). All of them contributed to the drafting of the Paris Agreement at COP21 in 2015.

Other notable guests include Natalie Portman, actress, director and climate activist; Captain Paul Watson, founder of the non-profit organization Sea Shepherd; Hannah Jones, CEO of the Earthshot Prize; and Imane Khelif, Olympic boxing champion and gender equality advocate.

Country delegations will also be present, showcasing their proposals to combat climate change in dedicated national pavilions. By sharing these solutions, they aim to stimulate international collaboration in the lead-up to COP30 in Brazil.

In particular, the conference Uniting for Impact: Advancing the African Narrative Amid Planetary Challenges will highlight voices from across the African continent, with several speakers presenting their perspectives and proposals.

The ChangeNOW 2025 Programme

On the opening day, 24 April, ChangeNOW will feature a ceremony recognizing 120 of the most promising start-ups, selected by the organization Mouvement Impact France.

On the second day, new local hubs of Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project will be launched. These hubs are grassroots groups committed to mobilizing action against climate change.

Saturday, 26 April, will be dedicated to the Impact Job Fair, a major event for anyone seeking employment in the sustainability sector. More than 150 recruiters will be present, offering an excellent opportunity for students and young professionals to grow their network and connect with companies, organizations, and institutions in the environmental field.

Finally, at the Port des Champs-Élysées, just steps from the Grand Palais, an immersive exhibition titled Water Odyssey will be open to the public free of charge. Designed to engage visitors of all ages, it will showcase solutions to help preserve oceans, seas, and rivers.

Cover: Envato image