The student-led drew together speakers, panelists, and audience members from around the world to engage in conversations focused on driving climate solutions and inspiring a commitment to environmental stewardship.
Co-chairs of the conference, Siddharth Gulati MPP 2025 and Manali Jain MPP 2025, discussed the importance of the occasion and the pressing climate crisis.
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What inspired you to get involved with the Climate Leadership Conference?
Both of us have worked at the intersection of sustainability, policy, and finance, and we recognize that climate leadership needs to move beyond commitments to real action. The urgency of the current global climate crisis—rising energy security concerns, extreme weather events, and complex geopolitical challenges—makes it more critical than ever to bring together experts across sectors. This conference was an opportunity to convene those at the forefront of solutions and drive forward meaningful discussions.
What gap in policy discussions are you hoping to fill with this conference?
Climate discussions often focus on long-term goals but miss the immediate steps needed for execution. We wanted to bridge that gap by exploring tangible solutions, from financing mechanisms to breakthrough technologies like fusion energy and grid modernization. Our panel, Community-Led Resilience, highlighted the crucial role of city and local leaders in responding to climate shifts and weather events. Their work is a testament to the power of grassroots leadership in bringing true change.
What key message do you want to communicate through this event?
Climate leadership is not just about setting ambitious targets; it’s about execution, collaboration, and scaling solutions now. Earth is already sending us distress signals. With energy security at risk, extreme weather becoming more frequent, and geopolitical complexities making the transition even harder, we need leaders across finance, policy, and technology to step up. The solutions exist, and this conference was about accelerating their implementation.
“With energy security at risk, extreme weather becoming more frequent, and geopolitical complexities making the transition even harder, we need leaders across finance, policy, and technology to step up.”
How do you define climate leadership, and why is it important for today's generation of students and professionals?
Climate leadership means taking decisive action within your sphere of influence—whether in policy, business, or technology—to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future. For our generation, this is not just an opportunity but a responsibility. The decisions we make today will shape economies, infrastructure, and societies for decades. Learning from leaders who are already solving these challenges, from city planners to innovators in energy and finance, is crucial in preparing for the roles we must play.
What do you hope attendees took away from the conference?
A sense of urgency, but also optimism. We had an incredible keynote from former United States Environmental Protection Agency Administrator and White House Climate Advisor and discussions that spanned fusion energy, climate finance, grid innovations, and sustainable infrastructure. We hope attendees left with a clearer understanding of the role they can play and the confidence to take action in their own fields.
How does this conference fit into your academic and professional goals?
Both of us are committed to continuing our work in this space. Siddharth has been engaged with climate and sustainability for a long time, leading the award-winning “Pollution-free India” project, supported by the Government of India. Manali is the founder of an award-winning startup at MIT and Harvard focused on supporting smallholder farmers in the agricultural space. We have worked with some of the most vulnerable communities in emerging markets and the U.S., and this conference allowed us to bring those experiences together. Engaging with speakers like vlog alumnus , Executive Director of Climate Mayors , and Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer at General Fusion reinforced the importance of cross-sector collaboration in driving meaningful change.
“Climate leadership means taking decisive action within your sphere of influence—whether in policy, business, or technology—to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future. For our generation, this is not just an opportunity but a responsibility.”
Conference photos courtesy of Winston Tang MPP/MUP 2026
