This WorldBoston event featured Dr. Kelly Sims Gallagher, current Dean of The Fletcher School at Tufts University, director of the Climate Policy Lab (CPL), and co-director of the Center for International Environment & Resource Policy (CIERP).
Although the talk focused on international cooperation on climate change, much of the discussion explored other levels of climate action and collaboration. Dr. Gallagher began by describing her involvement in international climate negotiations, from attending the second Conference of the Parties (COP) in Berlin to playing a key role in the “U.S.-China Joint Statement Addressing the Climate Crisis” released prior to the Paris Agreement at COP21 in 2015. The discussion soon turned to some of the challenges of the COP processes: building consensus among almost 200 Parties, managing priorities within agenda-setting, and maintaining momentum despite the breakdown in the Global Stocktake (GST) process in Belém, Brazil during COP30. Dr. Gallagher explained that the COP process entered a virtuous cycle after the Joint Statement and the Paris Agreement. However, more recently, it entered a vicious cycle following the second withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement and the increasing influence of Parties such as Saudi Arabia and Russia, who have resisted more ambitious climate action.
To move forward constructively in this environment, she proposed that bilateral and “mini-multilateral” agreements will become significantly more important. Examples include cooperation on clean technology supply chains and joint technological development. Although these agreements operate outside the formal multilateral process, she argued that they can still play a catalytic role by increasing ambition, action, and cooperation. She also emphasized the importance of subnational actors, noting that a significant amount of climate action takes place at the state, regional, and local levels. In the United States, policies such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) often help drive federal climate policy. Internationally, organizations such as the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) bring together cities and regions implementing new climate policies so they can learn from one another, similar to sister-city networks. Another example is the “We Are Still In” coalition of American mayors, governors, and businesses that attend COP meetings to represent continued climate commitment in the United States despite shifts in federal policy.
During the Q&A, an audience member asked about industry coalitions addressing climate change, such as CORSIA for aviation and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for shipping. Dr. Gallagher underscored the importance of these coalitions, as well as the broader role of the private sector, including commercial and investment banks shifting their investments and entrepreneurs focusing on clean technologies. She argued that while the global agenda-setting at COP meetings is important for raising awareness and guiding international direction, the most concrete climate action occurs at the national level and within the private sector. This is where she sees reasons for hope, given the economic opportunities associated with the energy transition. Many countries are seeking new jobs and economic growth and also view clean energy and clean technologies as viable pathways to achieving both. Even in the United States, private sector investment in clean energy remains strong: 93% of planned new utility-scale capacity additions in 2026 are projected to be clean, including 51% solar, 28% battery energy storage systems (BESS), and 14% wind, compared to only 7% gas. In response to another audience question, Dr. Gallagher discussed the role of international financial institutions and philanthropic organizations. Multilateral Development Banks (MBDs) play an important role in supporting developing countries through the energy transition, while philanthropies can contribute by supporting developing countries that participate in negotiations, strengthening COP processes, and by shaping the global climate agenda.
Dr. Gallagher concluded on a cautiously optimistic note. Although global action has slowed, many countries continue to move forward with climate action. A key indicator of strengthening international cooperation in the coming years, she suggested, will be the emergence of new coalitions of countries working together in innovative ways, advancing their own interests while accelerating the global energy transition and serving as catalysts for the broader multilateral process.
