Last week, at Climate Week NYC, GE Vernova was an influential voice in shaping the global conversation on smarter, more sustainable energy — highlighting the need for breakthrough solutions and urging bold leadership to meet accelerating demand. While the UN General Assembly drew headlines across town, GE Vernova contributed to the “Power On” theme at Climate Week by announcing recent advances in nuclear and carbon capture, and promoting a message of optimism, urgency, and collaboration.
Axios House: Moving the Needle
On Monday, Axios House hosted a discussion with GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik called “The Race to Deliver Energy’s Tomorrow.” Strazik underscored that rapid, bold electrification is the call of our time — and meeting it will require courageous leaders, especially from the next generation.
“When I meet with young people and they tell me that climate change is their generation’s biggest challenge, I tell them, ‘I need you at GE Vernova.’”
Indeed, the International Energy Agency estimates that the world will need 30 million people to choose careers in the energy sector over the next five years. Strazik pointed out GE Vernova’s actions to attract talent: a $50 million alliance with MIT, designed to inspire the next generation of innovators, and a headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, positioned in the heart of a vibrant academic community. The company also convenes Future Leaders of Energy, a platform for students and young professionals worldwide to exchange ideas and be part of a movement that shapes the future of energy.
Strazik also highlighted that electricity today powers just 20% of global energy needs — a share that will need to double to 40% to tackle climate challenges while still advancing economic growth. His message was clear: This is not the time for small steps, but bold and quick action.
Breakthrough Solutions: SMRs and DAC
Meeting this moment requires an approach that can deliver both speed and scale — and GE Vernova is advancing technologies that can do both. Strazik was particularly optimistic about nuclear power, especially small modular nuclear reactors (SMR). He remarked that the first SMR is already under construction outside Toronto, Ontario, and plans are underway to begin one in the United States within the next two years.
At the related Nuclear Summit, Roger Martella, GE Vernova’s chief corporate affairs officer and chief sustainability officer, reinforced the need to deploy the first SMR successfully — then scale globally. He described the challenge as building a “global chessboard” that places reactors where they are most needed, serving customers and hyperscalers while also positioning the U.S. at the forefront of nuclear technology.
Strazik also announced the company’s involvement in another breakthrough technology: a 1,500-ton annual direct air capture (DAC) facility that will remove carbon directly from the atmosphere. He highlighted GE Vernova’s focus not only on generation but on technologies that lower emissions and boost grid efficiency.
Calling On Next-Generation Energy Leaders
On Tuesday, GE Vernova hosted a Next Gen Leaders Networking Happy Hour at Goals House that drew more than 100 attendees. Joined by Allen Blue, co-founder of LinkedIn; Jessica Weis, program director of Columbia University’s Women in Energy; and Benji Backer, CEO of Nature Is Nonpartisan, Strazik struck a hopeful but urgent tone. The conversation framed energy not simply as a career path, but as a mission, a defining opportunity of our time that will require both technological innovation and bold leadership.
Strazik noted that the International Energy Agency projects the world will need 30 million people to join the energy sector in the next five years to meet the challenges of electrification, decarbonization, and rising global demand. He emphasized that the most critical factor will be cultivating leaders who can think differently, embrace innovation, and take responsibility for shaping the future. Together with Blue and the panelists, he stressed the urgency of attracting diverse new talent to the industry and equipping them with the mindset to deliver meaningful change.
Sherrell Dorsey, host of TED Tech, later wrote on LinkedIn that the session “offered a front-row seat to some of the most inspiring conversations on renewable energy innovation” and raised the critical question “How do we build energy systems that are decarbonized, affordable, and resilient?”
A theme Strazik returned to throughout the week was GE Vernova’s responsibility, given its role in powering 50% of U.S. electricity and over a third of global generation. He emphasized the need to move forward with urgency and humility, remaining flexible and willing to approach challenges differently to meet this moment.
Axios House at Climate Week NYC and the UN General Assembly took place September 22–24, 2025.