How should boards respond when climate policy becomes unpredictable? In an exclusive webinar, Dr. Kelly Sims Gallagher shared strategic insights for directors navigating EU–US policy shifts, global competition, and long-term resilience.
On June 30, 2025, Climate Governance Initiative Greece hosted an exclusive webinar with Dr. Kelly Sims Gallagher, Dean of The Fletcher School at Tufts University, former White House and U.S. State Department climate advisor, and one of the world’s leading experts on international climate and energy policy. The session was moderated by Marina Niforos, President & Founder of CGI Greece.
The webinar, “Climate Governance Across the Atlantic: Business Risks and Strategic Choices for Boards”, came at a moment of deep uncertainty in global climate policy. With the United States facing political headwinds on climate action and the European Union seeking to maintain regulatory leadership, the discussion centered on what these shifts mean for businesses engaged in EU–US trade, competitiveness, and long-term resilience.
Key Insights from Dr. Gallagher
Dr. Gallagher emphasized that while political signals may fluctuate, the fundamentals of climate risk have not changed:
- Climate risks are rising — but so are opportunities. Boards must avoid overcorrecting to short-term political noise and instead double down on resilience and long-term value creation in a decarbonizing economy.
- Policy instability has real costs: U.S. clean energy projects worth over $14 billion are on hold, while visa restrictions are weakening America’s innovation edge.
- Global competition is accelerating: China now derives 86% of its new energy capacity from non-fossil sources, while Europe could become a magnet for capital and talent seeking stability.
- Boards must stay alert: Regulatory fragmentation, supply chain vulnerabilities, and investment risks require vigilance and proactive strategies.
Her advice to directors was clear: “Stay the course, focus on fundamentals, and prepare for a low-carbon economy—regardless of political headwinds.”
Why This Matters for Boards
The conversation underscored a critical reality: in a world where policy can shift overnight, corporate boards cannot afford complacency. Climate risk is a strategic and financial issue—one that demands foresight, flexibility, and strong governance to secure competitiveness in global value chains.
About Dr. Kelly Sims Gallagher
Dr. Gallagher is the tenth Dean of The Fletcher School, Tufts University, a Professor of Energy and Environmental Policy, and Director of the Climate Policy Lab. She previously served in the Obama Administration as a Senior Policy Advisor at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and as Senior China Advisor at the U.S. State Department. Her research focuses on U.S.–China relations, green industrialization, and pathways to low-carbon, resilient prosperity. She is the author of several books, including Titans of the Climate (MIT Press, 2018).
A recording of the session is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSLuSleN1zM
