The Digital Economist Climate Summit 2026: Grounding the Digital Economy
The Digital Economist Climate Summit 2026
Grounding the Digital Economy: True Costs, Local Impact, and the New Math of Tech
September 24, 2026
New York City
The digital economy may appear weightless. Its impact is anything but.
As artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure expand, so do their demands on energy, water, land, materials, public infrastructure, and local communities.
Taking place during Climate Week NYC and the United Nations General Assembly, The Digital Economist Climate Summit 2026 will bring together senior leaders, policymakers, investors, researchers, innovators, and practitioners to examine the true costs of digital growth—and how its value can be shared more responsibly.
Hosted at The New York Academy of Sciences, the Summit takes place in an institution with more than two centuries of bringing science, ideas, and people together, providing a fitting setting for a conversation at the intersection of technology, society, and the future of the economy.
What We Will Explore
The Summit will move beyond broad climate commitments to examine the economic, institutional, and community-level decisions shaping the next generation of digital infrastructure.
Conversations will address:
The physical footprint of AI and digital infrastructure
Energy, water, land, and material demands
Local economic and community impacts
True-cost and impact-weighted accounting
Sustainable net present value and social return on investment
Regenerative finance and infrastructure investment
Institutional governance and shared accountability
Building lasting value for infrastructure-hosting communities
Who Should Attend?
The Summit is designed for senior leaders working across:
Artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure
Climate, energy, water, and natural resources
Finance and investment
Public policy and governance
Sustainability and impact measurement
Community and economic development
Research, innovation, and institutional strategy
Meet the Speakers
Hosted By
Navroop Sahdev, CEO and Founder, The Digital Economist
Ambriel Pouncy, Chief Marketing Officer, The Digital Economist
Jose Carvalho, Executive Director, Center of Excellence, The Digital Economist
Event Details
Date: September 24, 2026
Location: The New York Academy of Sciences
Time: 4:30 PM (Doors Open)| 5-7 PM (Summit) | 7-8 PM (Networking Reception)
Format: In person
Space is limited, and registration may be reviewed to maintain the seniority and cross-sector composition of the room.
Join us in building a digital economy that accounts for what it consumes, who it affects, and the value it leaves behind.