Day 4: The Marketplace of the Future
Greetings!! After 8 consecutive years running during Climate Week NYC, Marketplace of the Future is preparing for its first step out of New York.
What better moment than the first ever Climate Week in our nation's capital?
The Marketplace of the Future is a new take on the 1939 New York World’s Fair, which was dubbed “The World of Tomorrow” and featured new inventions such as the fluorescent light bulb, air-conditioning, and television.
We're here to show climate solutions in the same light - novel now, normal soon.
The 2025 MOTF Activities Include:
Climate Solution Exhibitors
Panel Discussions
Live Jazz
Workshops
Yummy drinks
Plant based food
Standup Comedy
Sustainable Fashion Show
Film Screenings
Highlights:
Exhibition Hall: Dozens of exhibitors showcasing a spectrum of climate solutions from vegan ice cream, to circular fashion, to satellites beaming solar energy from space!
Panel Discussions: Past speakers include inspiring leaders like Seth Godin, orgs like Project Drawdown, and youth leaders like Queer Brown Vegan. Check below for the DC line-up!
Networking Opportunities: Engage a room of hundreds of peers, start-up professionals, designers, educators, students, and potential collaborators during our day-long event.
Sustainable Fashion Show with the Black Oak Collective
Live Music: The climate vibe will be elevated by smooth jazz being played all-day.
Food and Drinks: The Marketplace of the Future strives to keep the vibes and camaraderie high. Enjoy a selection of conscious alcoholic and n/a beverages.
Zero-Waste Stations: Marketplace of the Future is ensuring all of our waste is either reused, donated, recycled, or composted, sending little to nothing to landfill. Expect to find “circularity guides” at each waste station to help you sort and return your items properly.
MOTFxDC is presented by:
Panel Room Schedule
Noon - Doors Open
1pm - 2pm
Panel 1: Fireside chat with Kristy Drutman and Downtown DC Business Improvement District - Demystifying local climate agendas
2pm - 3pm
Panel 2: Using Data as a Climate Leverage Point
Imagine having the breadth of IPCC data and recommendations visualized into concise charts. This conversation will explore the World Resource Institute's incredible Systems Change Lab. We'll learn how to use this data as a valuable leverage point for different stakeholders. Panelists include:
Mallory Cannon, UN Global Compact
John Schwabish, from Urban Institute
Tappan Parker, World Resource Institute
Isabela Barriga, World Resource Institute
Moderated by Jacob Simon
3pm - 4pm
We'll take a break from 3-4pm for our classroom-style data visualization workshop with Flourish. To attend see the checkbox when you register for your ticket!
4pm - 5pm
Panel 3: Narrative Power: Who Controls the Story of Nature? Reclaiming Imagination, Shaping Legislation
This session explores the critical role of storytelling in shaping environmental policy, reclaiming public imagination, and sustaining momentum in climate justice. From viral campaigns to congressional testimonies, we’ll explore how strategic communications can cut through political noise, influence lawmakers, and mobilize communities. We’ll also examine what’s next: How can creatives, scientists, and advocates work together to make nature impossible to ignore?
Melissa Jun Rowley – Climate Justice Columnist, Filmmaker, Advisor, Creatives for Climate
Juliette Richey – COO, Picture Motion
Dr. Deborah Brosnan – Marine Scientist, Policy Advisor
Ben Jealous – Executive Director, Sierra Club
Rev. Lennox Yearwood – President & CEO, Hip Hop Caucus
5pm - 6pm
We'll take a break from 5-6pm for our second classroom-style data visualization workshop with Flourish. To attend see the checkbox when you register for your ticket!
6pm - 7pm
Collaborative conversation between Project Drawdown Stories' Matt Scott and Black Girl Environmentalist. Speakers TBA!
7pm - 8pm
“Seeds of Sovereignty” x Sustainability Defined
This live podcast and screening event will merge documentary storytelling with sustainability advocacy, fostering a critical conversation about food sovereignty, biodiversity, and cultural resilience. In partnership with Sustainability Defined, the event will feature the director of Seeds of Sovereignty and Pax Natura’s Founder alongside the podcast hosts in a dynamic discussion interwoven with clips from the film. The conversation will explore the environmental, political, and cultural stakes of Mexico’s fight to protect its native corn against genetically modified crops and industrial agriculture, positioning this issue within the broader climate and sustainability movement.
8pm - 8:30pm
Standup Comedy with Kasha Patel
8:30 - 10:00
Sustainable Fashion Show with Black Oak Collective
Join BlackOak Collective for a one-of-a-kind fashion experience where sustainability meets storytelling, and creativity meets climate action.
Spring Return: Second Bloom is not just a show — it’s a movement. Through bold, upcycled fashion and circular design, we’re reimagining what we wear, what we waste, and what we value. Every look you’ll see on the runway is made from reclaimed materials, styled by emerging creatives, and rooted in themes of Revival, Reclamation, and Resilience.
Film Screenings:
We're still onboarding new and exciting films! Check back for the full lineup. The official screening times will be emailed within two days of the event so you can plan your trip :)