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Chorus for climate action

Pathway to Paris concert lights up Carnegie Hall

By United Nations Development Programme

November 10^th, 2017

"Climate change is our unifying global concern. It breaks down and defies the geographical borders and walls we have created. It unifies us all and urges us to realize our collective voice." - Jesse Paris Smith, Pathway to Paris co-founder

Music, poetry, and art transcend national boundaries; they have the power to transform, to elevate, to inspire. Music can help define who we are and who we aspire to be.

Iconic musician Patti Smith recites Emily Dickinson’s poem “Nature is what we see”.

Jesse Paris Smith (L) and her mother, singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist Patti Smith, share a moment on stage.

Patti Smith (L) poses for a photo with her daughter, Pathway to Paris co-founder Jesse Paris Smith.

MAKING PARIS REAL

On the eve of the COP23 climate conference, Jesse Paris Smith and Rebecca Foon, founders of Pathway to Paris, created an event that conveyed the urgency of building a global movement to turn the Paris Agreement into a reality.

Climate change connects us all, and music is one of the strongest and most prevalent worlds in which collaboration thrives.

Jesse Paris Smith on piano and Rebeccan Foon on cello

“Music is our universal language. The power of music brings us together, showing how truly interconnected we all are. The Earth is our home, and our home is in danger. The signs are loud and clear; there is no longer time for borders and walls. Our hope is that by the end of this night, you will all be climate leaders.” - Jesse Paris Smith, Pathway to Paris co-founder.

Pathway to Paris founders Jesse Paris Smith (L) and Rebecca Foon pose for a photo at the after party.

Talib Kweli (L), Camau Klutch Bernstine on drums and Flea electrify on stage during the Pathway To Paris concert.

turning agreement into action

In collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, Smith and Foon organized a stirring concert event at New York’s Carnegie Hall with leading musicians and thinkers to highlight the importance of climate action and “making Paris real”.

Patti Smith, Michael Stipe, Joan Baez, Flea, Cat Power, Talib Kweli and others performed songs that spoke to attendees’ aspirations – intended to galvanize them to action.

Jo Scheuer (L) and Mila Rosenthal from UNDP kick off the evening.

Experimental vocalist and artist Tanya Tagaq

Tenzin Choegyal and Ten Tibetan Elders perform.

Joan Baez performs during the Pathway To Paris concert.

Rebecca Foon and Patti Smith perform during the Pathway to Paris Concert for Climate Action at Carnegie Hall.

“We at UNDP work in 170 countries, and we see the effects of climate change around the world,” Jo Scheuer, UNDP’s Director for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction, said in opening remarks. “We see reasons for hope. When people demand change, governments react."

We see a lot of good movement, but we know that it is not enough… We have to do more and that is what tonight is about. - Jo Scheuer, Director for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction, UNDP

In a crowd of almost 3,000 people, there were tears of sadness, tears of joy, exuberant dancing and vigorous responses to the call to action.

A dozen Tibetan elders cautiously entered the stage with Tenzin Choegyal and performed the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum, praying for human compassion towards the earth.

With Jesse Paris Smith on piano, Tenzin Choegyal and Ten Tibetan Elders perform.

setting the stage

Michael Stipe sang moving renditions of the Nat King Cole classic “Nature Boy” and the Velvet Underground’s “Sunday Morning”; Joan Baez’s set opened with a cover of Antony and the Johnsons’ “Another World,” a lament for our dying planet which she noted “couldn’t be more apropos for this evening - it’s a song as dark as it can get, and as beautiful.” With her mellifluous voice and graceful presence, Cat Power issued a clarion call for us all to do “just one more thing”.

Cat Power, introduced by Michael Stipe as having the greatest voice to ever walk the earth, moved the audience.

Patti Smith and Michael Stipe backstage during Pathway To Paris Concert For Climate Action

Michael Stipe charmed the audience with his humour, talent and passion; Now It’s Overhead’s Andy LeMaster accompanied on bass.

Talib Kweli brought a jolt of energy with a rousing “Get By”, backed by Flea on bass and joined by Baez on stage for some impromptu dancing that left Kweli marvelling.

Principled, thoughtful and talented, Flea performs at his third Pathway to Paris concert.

Joan Baez and Talib Kweli dance on stage. “There is so much love in every Pathway to Paris event, — Joan Baez and Talib Kweli dance on stage. “There is so much love in every Pathway to Paris event," Jesse Paris Smith said.

CLIMATE ACTION

In between sets, environmentalists Bill McKibben and Vandana Shiva, and UNDP representatives Jo Scheuer and Mila Rosenthal, urged audience members to get involved in climate action. 350.org’s Bill McKibben turned on the lights for the audience so they could write to legislators and demand they divest from fossil fuels. Impassioned speakers rallied the crowd behind the 1000 Cities campaign, which calls on cities to transition off fossil fuels and pledge to use 100 percent renewable energy by 2040.

Environmentalist Bill McKibben speaks on stage.

"We believe the solution lies within transforming our cities and communities. This evening, Pathway to Paris is launching the 1000 Cities initiative, an initiative to unite the world to move above and beyond the targets outlined in the Paris Agreement." - Rebecca Foon, Pathway to Paris co-founder

Tanya Tagaq and Jeffrey Zeigler light up the room with their performance.

Lighting up the room

Singing a snippet of “Here Comes the Sun,” Stipe introduced conceptual artist Olafur Eliasson, who led the crowd in an audience-wide performance art piece using Little Sun solar-energy lights to illuminate the concert hall. In a powerful show of the beauty of collective action, Olafur led the audience in creating a breathtakingly illuminating sunrise, a twinkling night sky and a rustling prairie, before revealing that the 3,000 solar devices would be sent to those in need in Puerto Rico, some still without electricity in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

Lighting up Carnegie Hall, conceptual artist Olafur Eliasson demonstrates the beauty of collective action.

MERGING SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

UNDP recognizes the value of partnering with artists and social movements to leverage the power of collective action. As 350.org’s Bill McKibben noted, climate change is too important an issue to be left in the hands of politicians alone, and music can bridge the divide between activist and diplomat, opening new entry points for change.

With all proceeds from the event going to 350.org and UNDP, this alliance has created an important force in the effort to address climate change. The funds will support a multitude of initiatives globally, from benefiting farmers in the Sahel to preparing for rising sea levels and expanding the use of renewable energy.

Dr. Vandana Shiva notes that within living memory, climate change was considered a problem of the future.

Chorus for climate action

Joan Baez performs on stage.

a message for cop23

Heralded by Patti Smith’s powerful proclamation “it’s decreed the people rule,” Stipe, Baez, Kweli, Cat Power, Tanya Tagaq, Choegyal, Jo Scheuer and Mila Rosenthal from UNDP, Jesse Paris Smith and Rebecca Foon joined Patti on stage for the finale number. Audience members, too, rose to their feet, clapping and chanting in unison, affirming to the world that “People Have the Power”.

Patti Smith and friends on stage for the finale during the Pathway To Paris Concert For Climate Action.

Talib Kweli

Dr. Vandana Shiva

Flea

Jesse Paris Smith

Tenzin Choegyal

Rebecca Foon

Michael Stipe

Disclaimer: All views expressed by individual artists and partner organizations are their own. UNDP does not endorse or approve comments or positions.

Watch: Video recording of the Pathway to Paris concert.

Bendji Allonce, Flea,Chris Rob, Talib Kweli are seen backstage.

Michael Stipe, Klaus Biesenbach, Peter Sarsgaard and Maggie Gyllenhaal attend the after party.

Edward Norton and Patti Smith attend the after party.

Joan Baez and Talib Kweli are seen backstage.

Patti Smith and friends on stage during the Pathway to Paris Concert for Climate Action.

Joan Baez and Talib Kweli chat backstage.

Footnotes

Story by Andrea Egan || Photos by Getty Images for UNDP

FootNotes

Story by Andrea Egan || Photos by Getty Images for UNDP

© 2026 United Nations Development Programme

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