The Climate Chain of Command: Local vs Federal vs Global
New York is trying to cut emissions while keeping lights on and rents payable. What actually works fastest and sticks longest: city rules and permitting, federal money and standards, or global deals and supply chains. Join Unmuted for a candid debate with Frederick Bell (Advocate for State/Federal climate policy), Amanda Neslund (Young Leaders, World Economic Forum), and Daniel Ortega (Executive Director, New Yorkers for Affordable Energy). Expect clear cases for local, federal, and global action, and a real test of what moves tons per dollar and gets built in the real world
We will pressure-test the tradeoffs: zoning and transmission siting, IRA-style incentives and EPA rules, carbon clubs and border adjustments. Where do timelines, costs, and politics line up, and where do they collide. Come ready with questions and leave with a sharper view of which lever to pull first in New York and beyond.
Amanda Neslund (World Economic Forum / international climate policy)
Amanda Neslund is a rising climate-policy strategist whose early work spans environmental communications, podcast production, and global governance frameworks. She’s been deeply involved at the World Economic Forum in shaping cross-border climate mechanisms, grappling with how national pledges, funding flows, and enforcement regimes can align (or clash) across jurisdictions. Bringing both fresh energy and global awareness, Amanda challenges us to see how local and state action must dance in lockstep with international structures if we’re going to move the needle.
Frederick Bell (Center for American Progress, Associate Director for State Climate Policy)
Frederick Bell leads CAP’s efforts to translate ambitious federal climate goals into workable state and local action. As Associate Director for State Climate Policy, he works at the intersection of coalition building, equity, and implementation — arguing that national frameworks mean little unless calibrated to the capacities and political realities of states. Bell’s grounding in advocacy, democracy work, and campaign strategy gives him a practical lens: climate policy must be actionable where people live, not just up in Washington.
Dan Ortega (New Yorkers for Affordable Energy)
Dan Ortega is the driving force behind New Yorkers for Affordable Energy, where he elevates the voice of working families in debates over energy and climate policy. A longtime union activist now leading an energy coalition, Ortega pushes back on state-level mandates that he views as unmoored from affordability and local realities. He warns that decarbonization must not become a burden on everyday households — and in doing so, he forces the conversation to ask: who wins, who loses, and who pays?
Ticket covers beer, non-alcoholic beverages, and wine.