On Sept 3rd, the 2026 Climate x Leadership Training Program, hosted by the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC), held its second live session, focusing on adaptation and resilience.

Dr. Charlotte Halpern, is a senior researcher at Sciences Po, Centre for European studies and comparative politics (CEE), CNRS, France. Her work focuses on state restructuring, comparative environmental policies and governance, and sustainable cities. She has published articles and co-edited special issues in Comparative European Politics; West European Politics; Politique européenne; Gouvernement et action publique. 

During the lecture Dr. Halpern examined the EU's historical climate leadership and analyzed the Green Deal's ambition to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. She discussed key instruments including the European Climate Law, Fit for 55 package, and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. The speech highlighted three major implementation challenges: maintaining industrial competitiveness amid global competition, growing political contestation across member states, and the securitization of climate policy linking decarbonization to energy security. In the end, she concluded that effective climate leadership requires not only ambitious targets but also the sustained ability to deliver action while navigating economic, social, and geopolitical pressures.

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.

Next week’s sessions will explore Global Climate Governance, featuring two distinguished speakers. The first lecture is scheduled on Sept 8 bring by Prof. Masahiro Sugiyama, focusing on climate overshoot and carbon dioxide removal.

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