On September 1^st, the 2026 ‘Climate x’ Leadership Training Program, hosted by the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate, successfully held the first live session, focusing on Global Climate Governance.

Prof. Akiyuki Kawasaki, Professor at Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, led a distinguished session in the 2026 Climate x Leadership Training Program.  The session emphasizes the impact of floods on poverty and economic inequality, and evaluates the climate adaptation measures that enhance social resilience, with a focus on the long-term socioeconomic spillover effects of flood protection investments.

During the lecture, Professor Kawasaki drew on over 9,000 household visits across six countries to illustrate how floods disproportionately impact the poor, with over 90% of the world's poor in high-risk areas and low-income families facing recovery times longer than those of wealthier households. He emphasized that while conventional assessments only account for avoided losses, his "Livelihood Advancement Model" reveals long-term socioeconomic spillover effects, termed "Secondary Benefits", that can reach two to five times the primary benefits, fundamentally altering policy prioritization. Finally, he discussed the transformative potential of flood protection investment, noting it should be recognized not merely as infrastructure but as a powerful climate adaptation strategy for reducing poverty and inequality, fostering resilience and shared prosperity.

The 2026 Climate x Leadership Training Program, hosted by the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC), and strategically supported by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and GAUC's global partners, aims to empower youth with the knowledge, skills, and tools to become the climate leaders of tomorrow. The program inspires participants to envision a sustainable future, take meaningful action, and unlock their potential as leaders for a carbon-neutral future.

The second lecture of Adaptation and Resilience week will take place on Sept 3rd, led by Dr. Charlotte Halpern from Sciences Po, continuing the exploration of the EU Green Strategy.

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