This guest lecture examines how climate policy is negotiated, designed, and implemented across emerging economies in Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East, with particular attention to questions of equity, governance, and just transition. Four practitioners and 2026 Yale Climate Fellows from Egypt, Fiji, South Africa, and Namibia will share insights from their work at the intersection of climate diplomacy, national policy, and research.

The session will explore key themes including: evidence-based climate policymaking in resource-constrained contexts; Pacific perspectives on adaptation and climate-induced displacement; the role of legislative institutions in climate governance; and multi-stakeholder processes for just transition planning in fossil fuel-dependent economies.

Speakers:

Nagla Alkhoreiby (Sector Lead, J-PAL Middle East and North Africa, Egypt) — evidence generation and policy partnerships on air, water, and climate challenges in the MENA region

Gabriel S.J. Mara (G77 and China Coordinator for National Adaptation Plans, UNFCCC, Fiji) — climate adaptation, Pacific climate diplomacy, and nationally-led adaptation planning

Rachel Mundilo (Deputy Director, Climate Vulnerable Forum-V20, Namibia) — parliamentary climate governance, legislative processes, and institutional embedding of climate commitments across the Global South

Zimasa Vazi (Senior Manager for Stakeholder Engagement, Presidential Climate Commission, South Africa) — just transition stakeholder processes, economic diversification, and inclusive climate policymaking

Following brief presentations, speakers will lead breakout workshops on their areas of expertise, providing participants with opportunities to engage with specific policy tools, case studies, and implementation challenges.

Open to undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff. This lecture is part of GLBL 3830: "Managing the Clean Energy Transition: Contemporary Energy and Climate Change Policy Making"