AI is moving fast, but the infrastructure behind it is built over years. Every decision about where and how to build a datacenter now carries bigger questions about energy, water, land, reliability, and impact on the people who live nearby.

This session explores what it takes to plan responsibly for the next era of cloud and AI infrastructure. As Microsoft leaders make long-term decisions in a world of real resource constraints, how will they balance expectations and commitments while designing datacenters that can adapt over time and earn the trust of communities?

Moderator:

• Gabriel Snyder, Editorial Director, Newsweek

Speaker:

• Noelle Walsh, President, Cloud Operations and Innovation, Microsoft

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.

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.

Moderator:

• Gabriel Snyder, Editorial Director, Newsweek

Speakers include:

• Alexis Crowell, General Manager, Americas, Axelera AI

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?

Moderator:

• Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, Senior Editor, Newsweek

Speakers include:

• Bob Holycross, VP, Chief Sustainability, Environment & Safety Officer, Ford

The next generation of infrastructure must deliver more with less - less energy, less water, lower-carbon materials and lower emissions - without compromising reliability. What does designing for constraint mean in practice, and how can innovation in materials and engineering help build infrastructure that is both more resilient and more efficient?

Moderator:

• Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, Senior Editor, Newsweek

Mobility is the backbone of modern economies, connecting people, goods and essential services. But as climate risks intensify, ageing infrastructure, extreme weather and the transition to electrified transport are reshaping passenger transport, logistics and critical supply chains.

This session will explore how governments and industry leaders can build transport systems that are more resilient, connected and future-ready. How can infrastructure be designed, modernized and digitally managed to withstand climate impacts while supporting the transition to electric mobility? And what role should manufacturers, transport providers and government play in strengthening the resilience of the entire mobility ecosystem?

Moderator:

• Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, Senior Editor, Newsweek

Speakers include:

• Cassandra Garber, Chief Sustainability Officer, General Motors

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?

Moderator:

• Catherine Howe, Executive Vice President, Investment Reports

Speakers include:

• Douglas Farnham, Chief Recovery Officer, Vermont
• Melissa Hoffer, Climate Chief, Massachusetts
• Laura Popa, Deputy Commissioner of Sustainability, New York City Department of Buildings
• Victoria Salinas, Climate Leader in Residence, Duke University and Former Deputy Administrator for Resilience, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)