Andrew Light

Distinguished Senior Fellow

Bio

Andrew Light, Ph.D., is Distinguished Senior Fellow in the Global Climate Program. He works with the senior leadership team on a variety of topics on both U.S. and global climate and renewable energy strategy. He is also University Professor at George Mason University, where he primarily works on the normative dimensions of climate change, restoration ecology, and urban sustainability.

From 2013-2016, Andrew served as Senior Adviser and India Counselor to the U.S. Special Envoy on Climate Change, and as a staff member in the Secretary of State's Office of Policy Planning, in the U.S. Department of State. In this capacity he served as U.S. Director of the U.S.-India Joint Working Group for Combating Climate Change, Chair of the Interagency Climate Working Group on the Sustainable Development Goals, and on the senior strategy team for the UN climate negotiations, among other duties. From 2008 to 2013 he was Senior Fellow and Director of International Climate Policy at the Center for American Progress (CAP). At CAP Andrew was principal adviser on international environmental issues to CAP's founder and chairman of the board, John Podesta, and lead a team working primarily on international climate finance, mitigation of short-lived climate pollutants, and land use change.

Andrew completed his doctoral work at the University of California at Riverside and UCLA, and held a three-year postdoctoral fellowship in Environmental Risk Assessment at the University of Alberta.

Blog Posts

National Climate Assessment: U.S. Climate Action Can Avoid Tens of Thousands of Deaths, Hundreds of Billions in Damages Annually
by Kelly Levin and Andrew Light - November 25, 2018
The new National Climate Assessment provides an unprecedented look at the climate impacts the United States is already experiencing and those it is on track for in the future. Here are four important findings.
The World Is Moving On Since Trump Announced Intent to Withdraw From the Paris Agreement on Climate Change
by Andrew Light - May 30, 2018
President Trump announced one year ago that he would pull the United States out of the Paris Agreement. Meanwhile, other countries and U.S. states, cities and businesses have moved forward with climate action.
U.S. Climate Assessment: Now Is the Warmest Period of Modern Times
by Andrew Light and Kelly Levin - November 03, 2017
A new U.S. government report confirms the well-established science behind climate change: it's real, it's human-caused, it's happening faster than predicted and it poses a tremendous threat to America and the rest of the world.
G20 Economies Must Lead on Climate Despite U.S. Position on Paris Agreement
by Andrew Light and Andrew Steer - July 03, 2017
When G20 leaders meet in Hamburg this week, they have an opportunity and responsibility to send a clear message that the Trump administration's position on the Paris Agreement -- and the idea that economic growth and action on climate are at odds -- is simply wrong.
White House Abandoning Paris Agreement Harms the U.S. As Other Countries Step Up
by Andrew Light - June 02, 2017
President Donald Trump's announcement that the U.S. will withdraw from the Paris Agreement puts the United States in an odd club of only three nations that have not signed the landmark climate change accord. It's a decision that could isolate the U.S. from the global community for years to come.
Business, Security, Diplomatic Leaders Urge Trump to Stay in Paris Agreement
by Andrew Light - May 10, 2017
As the Trump administration considers the Paris Agreement, leaders from the business, security and diplomatic communities explain why the United States should stay in the landmark climate pact.
The Paris Agreement: Should the U.S. Stay or Should It Go?
by David Waskow and Andrew Light - April 17, 2017
As senior advisers converge on the White House, here are five huge reasons President Trump should keep the United States in the Paris Agreement.
Will Merkel Use Next Week’s U.S. Visit to Boost the Paris Agreement?
by David Waskow and Andrew Light - March 10, 2017
When German Chancellor Angela Merkel visits Washington next week for her first meeting with President Donald Trump since his inauguration, she has made clear she intends to raise the issue of climate change. Her voice would join a rising chorus of global leaders who favor the Paris Agreement.
America Can’t Afford to Be a Climate Loner
by Andrew Light and David Waskow - January 25, 2017
Pulling out of the Paris Agreement on climate change would put the United States at odds with its most steadfast allies and trade partners.
What Did Confirmation Hearings Tell Us About Trump’s Priorities on Climate Change?
by Andrew Light - January 20, 2017
In their confirmation hearings, Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson, EPA Administrator nominee Scott Pruitt and Secretary of Energy nominee Rick Perry stopped short of denying climate change is real. But they insisted—at odds with the science—that there is uncertainty about the causes and effects.

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Andrew Light

National Climate Assessment: U.S. Climate Action Can Avoid Tens of Thousands of Deaths, Hundreds of Billions in Damages Annually

The World Is Moving On Since Trump Announced Intent to Withdraw From the Paris Agreement on Climate Change

U.S. Climate Assessment: Now Is the Warmest Period of Modern Times

G20 Economies Must Lead on Climate Despite U.S. Position on Paris Agreement

White House Abandoning Paris Agreement Harms the U.S. As Other Countries Step Up

Business, Security, Diplomatic Leaders Urge Trump to Stay in Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement: Should the U.S. Stay or Should It Go?

Will Merkel Use Next Week’s U.S. Visit to Boost the Paris Agreement?

America Can’t Afford to Be a Climate Loner

What Did Confirmation Hearings Tell Us About Trump’s Priorities on Climate Change?

Strengthening Nationally Determined Contributions to Catalyze Actions That Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants

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