Conference Agenda

Agenda Subject to Change

Friday, February 20th 2026

Registration Opens + Breakfast

8:30am
1st Floor Taubman Building

Registration opens on the 1st Floor of the Taubman Building. Entrance at the intersection of Elliot and Bennet Street.

Coffee and light breakfast served.

Opening Keynote

9:00am
Nye B

Join us for the opening remarks and conference keynote for the Climate Leadership Conference 2026 delivered by Jacob Werksman, senior Emile Noel Fellow at New York University Law School and Principal Adviser to Directorate General for Climate Action in the European Commission.

This conversation will be facilitated by Margherita Bruti Liberati, LL.M. Candidate at Harvard Law School and Former Member of the European Commission's Legal Service.

A diverse group of people sitting in a conference room, attentively listening. The group includes men and women of different ethnic backgrounds, some taking notes or holding devices. The room has wood-paneled walls and chairs arranged in rows.

Governance

NYE B

What’s Next for the Clean Energy Transition and the U.S.’s Industrial Policy?

9:45am-11:00am

Advancing Solutions for Arctic Permafrost Change: Science, Policy, and Action

11:15am-12:30pm

Steady Hands in Turbulent Times: Practicing Climate Leadership in a Backsliding Political Moment

1:30pm-2:45pm

Playing Offense and Defense in Washington, DC: Federal Policy for the Clean Energy Transition

3:15pm-4:30pm

Tall redwood trees in a forest with dense green foliage and sunlight filtering through the branches.

Environment

NYE A

From Global Consensus to Coalition Action: Rethinking Environmental Law and Policy After 2025

9:45am-11:00am

Storytelling for Climate Action: Navigating Misinformation and Polarization

11:15am-12:30pm

Large-Scale Conservation at a Crossroads: Scaling through Finance, Governance, and Indigenous Leadership

1:30pm-2:45pm

Regenerative Agriculture and the Future of Farming: Promise, Pitfalls, and Politics

3:15pm-4:30pm

Aerial view of farmland with wind turbines and solar panels in a rural area.

Energy

Allison Dining Room (ADR)

Offshore Wind Deep Dive: Is the Model Broken?

9:45am-11:00am

Digging for Dominance: Critical Minerals in a Fragmenting Global Economy

11:15am-12:30pm

Keeping the Lights On: Innovation and Investment in Grid Modernization

1:30pm-2:45pm

How to Build Renewable Energy: Balancing Climate Urgency and Community Consent

3:15pm-4:30pm

Tea & Coffee Break (2:45pm-3:15pm)

Lunch (12:30-1:30pm)

Vegetarian & Vegan Options Available. Please email climateleadershipsummit@gmail.com if you have any other dietary restrictions.

SPECIAL LUNCH PANEL

Carbon Pricing and Global Partnerships: A Fireside Conversation with Massachusetts’ Commissioner of Energy Resources Elizabeth Mahony

Allison Dining Room (ADR)

A man in a blue suit and glasses speaking into a microphone during a presentation in a conference room. Several people are seated around him, facing in his direction, with some taking notes or listening attentively. A screen behind him displays data or images related to the presentation. The room has wooden window shutters and a coffered ceiling.

Closing Remarks

4:45pm-5:15pm
Nye B

Join us for the closing remarks for the Climate Leadership Conference 2026.

CONFERENCE AGENDA

CONFERENCE AGENDA

Have Questions or Inquiries? Contact Us at climateleadershipsummit@gmail.com

Harvard University is located on the traditional land of the Massachusett people, and the Nipmuc and Wampanoag Nations have long been our neighbors as well. Harvard Kennedy School recognizes and honors the past, present, and future of these Indigenous people and precious lands.

Harvard Kennedy School encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical or technical access provided, please contact climateleadershipsummit@gmail.com in advance of the event.

Harvard Kennedy School Open Debate, Protest, and Dissent Policies.

Climate Leadership Conference

hosted by students at Harvard Kennedy School

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