Climate Ring: The Fight of the Century
How can boxing inspire us in the fight against climate change? Boxing epitomizes perseverance, disciplined practice, and continuous refinement of strategy, qualities essential in the struggle for a livable planet. A good boxer possess not just the power to land a blow, but the foresight to land it at the right time and place, a finesse we also must apply to solve the climate crisis.
At the same time, boxing evokes human and bodily vulnerability – evoking the perils faced by communities and ecosystems enduring the strongest impacts of climate change. Persistence and resilience in the face of such adversity are essential qualities in both arenas. Finally, there is solidarity in stepping into the ring, communal joy in the struggle, and elation in victory. The Climate Ring embraces this optimism in the fight for our planet.
Round 4 of Climate Ring celebrates and explores the meaning behind these links. A keynote address by Thomas Crowther of ETH Zurich, and remarks by Adrian Siegrist of carbon removal pioneer Climeworks, will be followed by a panel discussion on the links between boxing and the climate fight.
Climate Ring
12 rounds. 3 days.
1 fight for the planet.
From September 25 to 27, 2024, Swissnex presents the Climate Ring, a pop-up boxing arena for the fight of the century: the one for planet Earth. Join us in New York’s East Village for an eclectic mix of discussions, exhibitions, and performances featuring rising stars and heavyweights from science, innovation, and the arts. From renowned ecologist Thomas Crowther of ETH Zurich to New York nightlife impresaria Susanne Bartsch, the Climate Ring showcases fresh perspectives on our planetary moment from Switzerland, the US, and beyond.
Program
- 5:30pm – Check-in
- 6:00pm – Welcome Remarks
- 6:10pm – Thomas Crowther, ETH Zurich
- 6:25pm – Adrian Siegrist, Climeworks
- 6:30pm – Patricia Ellen, AYA Earth Partners
- 6:35pm – Moderated discussion
- 7:00pm – Reception
- 8:00pm – End
iCal / Outlook
Event start time
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New York
5:30PM
Speakers
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Bio
Patricia Ellen
AYA Earth PartnersPatricia Ellen is partner and leader of Latin America Systemiq operations, an organization focused on accelerating systemic change and co-founder of Aya Earth Partners, a global coalition focused on accelerating the transition to a regenerative economy. Former Secretary of Economic Development, Science and Technology of the State of São Paulo, she has a degree in Administration from FEA-USP, a master degree in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School and an MBA from Insead. Patricia was President of Optum in Brazil, a health technology company owned by United Health Group, and former partner at McKinsey & Company. She was a professor of Leadership and Digital Innovation in the Leadership and Management Masters Course at the Center for Public Leadership. She is a co- founder of Movimento Agora and was appointed a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2016.
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Bio
Thomas Crowther
ETH ZurichThomas Ward Crowther is a professor of ecology at ETH Zurich and co-chair of the advisory board for the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. At ETH Zurich, he started Crowther Lab, an interdisciplinary group of scientists exploring the role of biodiversity in regulating the Earth’s climate. Crowther is the founder of Restor, an online platform that provides connectivity, and transparency to thousands of conservation and restoration projects around the world. He also founded SEED, a biodiversity monitoring tool to help measure the health of nature across the globe. He was selected in the final cohort for Prince William’s Earthshot Prize, and was selected by World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader for his work to promote nature.
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Bio
Adrian Siegrist
ClimeworksAdrian Siegrist is the Chief Commercial Officer at Climeworks, the global leader in carbon removal, empowering companies to advance their net-zero roadmaps and fight global warming. Climeworks develops, builds and operates direct air capture plants to remove CO2 from the air since 2009, with commercial operations since 2021 – scaling towards gigaton scale in 2050. Previously Adrian served as Vice President of Climeworks Solutions and Head of Strategy. Before Climeworks, Adrian was with Boston Consulting Group in the US and Europe, advising Fortune 500 companies on energy transition, sustainability and finance topics across various industries.
Welcome Remarks
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Bio
Benjamin Bollmann
Swissnex in Boston and New YorkBenjamin Bollmann is CEO of Swissnex in Boston and New York, Consul of Switzerland in Boston, and Interim CEO of Swissnex in Brazil. He is also Chair of Swissnex’s CEO Committee, which coordinates strategic priorities across the global Swissnex network. Under his leadership Swissnex has launched several long-term initiatives such as Project Quantum, which connects Switzerland and the world in quantum science and technology; Climate Collider, a startup exchange program powered by Swissnex and Innosuisse; and more recently Swissnex for the Planet, which explores the potential for a new planetary diplomacy. Benjamin Bollmann was previously Deputy CEO at Swissnex in San Francisco, where he led interdisciplinary programs spanning from science communication to humanitarian action and human rights in the digital age. Before joining Swissnex in 2015, he worked as a journalist and communications consultant at the interface of science and design in Switzerland. He is a graduate of ETH Zurich and has conducted neuroscience and AI research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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Bio
Niculin Jäger
Consulate General of Switzerland in New YorkAmbassador Niculin Jäger is the Consul General of Switzerland in New York since September 2022. He entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2002, where he worked first at the Integration Office, which is in charge of the relations with the European Union, followed by a posting as attaché in Mexico City. In 2004 he got promoted to the position of Deputy Head of Mission to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, with residence in Tbilisi. In 2008, back in Switzerland he led the Section for Cultural Foreign Policy in Bern, followed by an assignment as Deputy Head of Mission in Maputo, Mozambique. In 2014 he was nominated Deputy Head of Mission to Brazil with the title of Minister. From 2018-2022 he was the Swiss Ambassador to Zimbabwe and Malawi, 2020 he became also the Swiss Ambassador to Zambia. Ambassador Jäger holds a Master degree in journalism and science of communication, Russian language and cultural philosophy of Eastern Europe of the University of Fribourg, Switzerland.
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Bio
Pati Hertling
Performance Space New YorkPati Hertling is the Senior Director of Performance Space New York. With a background in law and deep engagement in the art world, Pati has been instrumental in shaping the institution’s approach to interdisciplinary and socially engaged work. At Performance Space, she helps steer the organization’s mission to redefine how performance can respond to the pressing issues of our time, fostering experimental and boundary-pushing practices that challenge dominant narratives and inspire new possibilities.
Performance Space New York has long been a space where artists and audiences can come together to imagine new forms of expression, community, and resistance. Through innovative programming and a commitment to inclusivity, the organization plays an important role in NYC’s cultural landscape.
Moderation
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Bio
Marc Streit
Swissnex in Boston and New YorkAs Head of Arts and Creative Industries based in New York City, Marc is responsible for Swissnex’s activities at the interface of art and the fields of education, research, and innovation. He sees the arts as an opportunity to engage diverse communities around Swissnex’s thematic focus areas in a tangible, playful, and accessible way. Marc is the former Deputy Artistic Director of the contemporary dance center Tanzhaus Zürich and founder of the zürich moves! festival for contemporary practice in the performing arts. He studied curating at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK).
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Bio
Nathalie Minder
Swissnex in Boston and New YorkAs Head of Innovation at Swissnex in Boston and New York, Nathalie is the lead for Swissnex’s startup and innovation programs on the East Coast. After several years in the music industry and co-founding an e-commerce startup in Sweden, Nathalie worked at STARTUP CAMPUS to inspire and support Swiss entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into businesses. Nathalie holds an MS in Business & Management from the Stockholm School of Economics, and a BS in Business Administration from the University of Bern.