Lunchtime Keynote Presentation

The Hon. Leo E. Strine, Jr.’s keynote address framed climate change as an urgent and material business risk that cannot be ignored. He argued that fiduciary duty must evolve to account for the growing financial impacts of climate risks, emphasizing that corporate leaders must govern with long-term sustainability in mind. 

Strine warned against reactive, politically driven decisions, urging companies to make climate-conscious choices grounded in their core business strategies. “Finding sure footing going forward requires corporate leaders to understand that their proper mandate is to govern their business like good citizens,” he said, highlighting the need for consistency in addressing climate risks. His message was clear: climate change is a business reality, and ignoring it undermines fiduciary responsibility.