Join us for the Pillars of Stability: Building Resilient Systems
energy - infrastructure - water
One World Trade Center, NYC | September 22, 2026
The systems that power modern economies are under strain from accelerating demand and weakening resilience.
Rapid urbanization, population growth, industrial expansion and AI infrastructure buildouts are increasing demand for energy, water and critical physical infrastructure faster than new capacity can be built. At the same time, climate change is intensifying resource constraints and disruption risks through environmental stress and extreme weather.
Growth in the coming decade will depend on strengthening and modernising the foundations of the economy, improving efficiency across all sectors, and making them more resilient to climate shocks. How should businesses and governments invest in core systems so they can withstand escalating climate disruption and meet rising demand? What will make or break a city’s resilience in the coming decade?
Join Newsweek and Investment Reports for the fourth edition of Pillars of Stability: building resilient systems to examine climate impacts and risk across core systems and the investment required to make them resilient.
Topics for discussion include:
- How can energy, water and infrastructure systems keep pace with accelerating demand driven by urban growth, industrial expansion, electrification and AI?
- What does fit-for-purpose infrastructure look like over the next three to five years, designed for climate volatility and resource efficiency?
- How can businesses, cities and countries prepare for climate shocks effectively?
- What opportunities do AI and other innovative technologies present across energy, water, infrastructure and overall risk mitigation?
Join Us!
Join Newsweek during Pillars of Stability: Building Resilient Systems for insightful discussions and innovative solutions.
The Venue
Audience
Promoted on all Newsweek's Channels
Moderators
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull
Senior Editor
Newsweek
Catherine Howe
Executive Vice President
Investment Reports
Past Speakers
Agenda
| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM |
Registration, networking and breakfast
|
| 10:00 AM – 10:05 AM |
Opening remarks
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| 10:05 AM – 10:15 AM |
Keynote - Building urban resilience: reinforcing systems under climate stress
Cities are a concentration of the systems that modern economies depend on. Energy networks, transport, housing, water and healthcare must all operate simultaneously at scale–and when one fails, the consequences cascade quickly. How can leaders manage investment into public infrastructure to build resilience while supporting immediate economic priorities? |
| 10:15 AM – 11:00 AM |
Panel discussion - Powering growth under pressure
Rising electricity demand from AI, advanced manufacturing and electrification are squeezing grids. In particular, the rapid expansion of hyperscale data centers is creating concentrated, around-the-clock loads that challenge grid flexibility, capacity and planning timelines. At the same time, extreme weather, ageing infrastructure and fuel volatility are exposing structural weaknesses in energy systems worldwide. This session will examine how leaders can modernise and strengthen infrastructure, diversify the energy mix, and improve efficiency to meet surging demand without sacrificing resilience or affordability. |
| 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM |
Networking break
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| 11:20 AM – 12:00 PM |
Panel discussion - Rewiring industry for climate resilience, productivity and competitiveness
Industries are being squeezed from both ends. Climate volatility is disrupting energy supply, transport routes and water availability, while rising demand, resource constraints and higher operating costs are adding pressure to deliver more with less. Businesses that reduce energy, water and material intensity can strengthen resilience, lower costs and improve competitiveness while advancing sustainability goals.How is climate risk reshaping industrial strategy? Where do efficiency, resilience and competitive advantage converge? |
| 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM |
Fireside chat - Investing in the foundations of growth
Economic expansion depends on rebuilding and reinforcing the systems under strain from climate change. How should governments and businesses prioritise investment and collaboration to secure sustainable, long-term growth?
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| 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM |
Lunch
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| 1:30 PM – 2:10 PM |
Fireside chat - Future-proofing the built environment: efficiency, resilience and smart design
From low-carbon construction materials and circular design to distributed energy, water reuse and smarter building management, the next generation of buildings will play a critical role in strengthening urban systems. This session will explore how developers, cities and industry leaders can rethink construction, retrofit ageing infrastructure and design buildings that support both climate resilience and long-term economic growth. |
| 2:10 PM – 2:45 PM |
Panel - Cities 2040
What does a “fit-for-purpose” city look like in a world of chronic heat, flood risk, water stress and grid constraint? How can cities balance affordability, resilience and decarbonization at the same time? And what emerging solutions—across nature-based infrastructure, digital twins, distributed energy and water systems, and circular urban resource flows—could redefine urban performance over the next decade?
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| 2:45 PM – 3:00 PM |
Closing remarks
Achieving food security under climate constraints Climate change is no longer a peripheral risk to food systems; it is a direct productivity constraint. Farmers must produce more with tighter water supplies, degraded soils and more volatile weather, while demand rises and geopolitical tensions reshape trade flows. Companies are more at risk of supply chain disruption. How can farmers and companies increase output and protect food security as climate volatility intensifies? |
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