On September 21st and 25th, the 2026 ‘Climate x’ Leadership Training Program, hosted by the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate, successfully held two sessions focusing on youth leadership collaborating with UNITAR.

Based in Geneva, Dubai, and Moscow, Mr. Jerome is a senior expert with 28 years of experience in leadership development and climate action. Specializing in sustainability and change management, he has trained over 40,000 leaders and managed 90+ international projects in 110 countries for organizations worldwide, including under the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol.

During the lecture, Mr. Jerome explored the foundations of climate leadership, examining diverse sources of influence, from expertise and charisma to professional networks, and introduced McGregor's Theory X and Y alongside situational leadership frameworks. He emphasized that effective climate leaders must adapt their style to context and follower readiness. In the second module, he applied these principles to collective action, presenting Tuckman's four-stage team development model and a pyramid of organizational values linking ethics and integrity to high performance. He concluded with Aristotle's three dimensions of persuasive leadership, logos, ethos, and pathos, arguing that climate advocates must balance rational evidence with emotional appeal to inspire action. Throughout the sessions, he offered practical guidance on influencing decision-makers, delivering upward feedback, and building the courage needed to drive systemic change.

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.

This concludes the academic phase of the 2026 ‘Climate x’ Leadership Training program. After equip themselves with the professor's insights, students are now ready to become the new pioneer for change by organizing their own events, and positively influencing those around them.

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