Esther Choi is the Research Lead, Nature-based Solutions and the Private Climate Sector at the World Resources Institute. She leads initiatives aimed at scaling private sector contributions to nature and climate by aligning incentives, mobilizing knowledge and resources, and building networks.

In her previous role at WRI, Esther conducted research on de-risking strategies for international financial institutions and blended finance for climate mitigation and adaptation, offering insights to scale private sector contributions and impact.

Before joining WRI, Esther worked as a practice-oriented researcher on climate finance, sustainable development, and international governance. She has held positions at Stanford University’s Sustainable Finance Initiative, the Green Climate Fund, the World Bank, and the Global Green Growth Institute.

Esther holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management from UC Berkeley and a Master’s degree in Environmental Management from Yale School of the Environment. She is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, California.