The Future of International Climate Governance
The Future of International Climate Governance - Tuesday Talk by former State Secretary Jennifer Morgan
Advancing sustainability and Climate protection has never been more urgent — yet the geopolitical landscape within which global climate governance operates is increasingly fractured. This talk examines how rising geopolitical tensions and great-power competition are reshaping the international climate architecture and its capacity to deliver meaningful results. It asks whether existing multilateral institutions remain fit for purpose, and explores whether new, more flexible forms of climate governance are emerging to fill the gaps they leave behind. A particular focus is placed on the European Union, which faces a distinct triple challenge: maintaining ambitious climate and sustainability commitments, preserving its geopolitical standing, and building resilience against external shocks and strategic pressure. The talk concludes by considering what pathways remain open for advancing a credible global climate agenda in an era defined by fragmentation and rivalry.
Jennifer Morgan is a distinguished leader at the intersection of climate, foreign policy, diplomacy and activism. As State Secretary and Special Envoy for the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, she led the development and implementation of the groundbreaking Climate Foreign Policy strategy, which was approved by the Cabinet. Besides leading Germany’s delegation to the UNFCCC negotiations, she focused her time on building partnerships with developing countries and pursuing an all-of-society public diplomacy approach. She is a leading voice in the conversation on how foreign policy must evolve to address the urgent climate challenges of our time. This high-level government experience is complemented by various leadership roles in civil society from Executive Director of Greenpeace International to Global Climate Director at World Resources Institute, E3G and WWF. With a focus on bringing politics, policy and radical collaboration together to accelerate change, Morgan has over 30 years of experience in climate policy, international diplomacy and activism. She is uniquely positioned to discuss how we can bridge the gap between policy, diplomacy, and on-the-ground activism.
By invitation only.
