Kelly Levin

Senior Associate, Pillar Lead TRAC Policy

Bio

Kelly Levin is a senior associate with WRI’s global climate program. She focuses her work on supporting countries in the design and tracking of climate commitments, as well as planning for long-term transitions associated with decarbonization. Kelly closely follows the negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and analyzes related emissions reduction commitments. Kelly also plays a leading role in WRI on communicating climate science developments.

Kelly pursued her doctoral work at Yale’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, where her research focused on adaptation policies to contend with climate impacts to biodiversity. During her PhD studies, she was also a writer for the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Reporting Services, covering the UN climate change negotiations. Kelly has also worked as a climate policy/technical analyst at NESCAUM (Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management), where she devoted her time to developing a regional greenhouse gas registry in the Northeast and assisting states in the development of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

Kelly holds a PhD and Master of Environmental Management from Yale’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and a B.A. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Yale College. She has been awarded the Google Climate Science Communication Fellowship and the Academic Council on the United Nations System Dissertation Award, and is a Switzer Fellow, Teresa Heinz Scholar, and Udall Scholar.

Blogs

CO2 Emissions Climb to an All-Time High (Again) in 2019: 6 Takeaways from the Latest Climate Data
by Kelly Levin and Katie Lebling - December 03, 2019
Global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels are on track to climb to yet another record high this year, according to a new report from the Global Carbon Project, putting the world at risk of catastrophic climate change due to these heat-trapping gases.
Cuatro Prioridades para la Cumbre Climática COP25 en Madrid
by Yamide Dagnet, David Waskow, Christina Chan, Joe Thwaites, Kelly Levin and Nathan Cogswell - December 03, 2019
Se espera que representantes que las partes alineen políticas que aceleren y amplíen la acción y las inversiones hacia una economía baja en carbono
What You Need to Know About Article 6 of the Paris Agreement
by Kelley Kizzier, Kelly Levin and Mandy Rambharos - December 02, 2019
Depending on how the international carbon markets rules are structured, Article 6 of the Paris Agreement could help countries achieve their climate commitments or let them off the hook. Here’s what you need to know.
4 Priorities for the COP25 Climate Conference in Madrid
by Yamide Dagnet, David Waskow, Christina Chan, Joe Thwaites, Kelly Levin and Nathan Cogswell - November 25, 2019
As leaders gather in Madrid for COP25, a can-do approach will be needed to inspire solutions for the climate challenge. These are the four priorities for the 2019 UN Climate Change Conference.
This Month in Climate Science, September 2019: Ocean and Ice Warning; Lost Birds; Pancake Breakfast at Risk?
by Kelly Levin and Dennis Tirpak - October 23, 2019
September brought alarming signs of a changing climate, including record-breaking hurricanes and reports on rapid loss of snow and ice, a steep decline in U.S. bird species and risks to wheat crops.
4 Things to Know About the IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere
by Kelly Levin and Eliza Northrop - September 25, 2019
The ocean has absorbed 20-30% of our carbon emissions since the 1980s. It's feeling the effects.
This Month in Climate Science, August 2019: Persistent Summers, Bumpier Plane Rides and More Heat Deaths
by Kelly Levin and Dennis Tirpak - September 24, 2019
This Month in Climate Science summarizes significant new research and provides a clearer picture of the threats posed by climate change. Studies published in August 2019 reveal disappearing sea ice, changing harvest seasons and more turbulence for airplane passengers.
What Does "Net-Zero Emissions" Mean? 6 Common Questions, Answered
by Kelly Levin and Chantal Davis - September 17, 2019
More and more countries are setting goals to reach net-zero emissions. Here we unpack what "net-zero emissions" really means, and why these goals are important.
From Climate Researcher to Climate Spectator: Witnessing a Melting Arctic
August 22, 2019
The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world. One climate researcher experienced some of the impacts firsthand in Svalbard.
This Month in Climate Science, July 2019: Raccoon Explosions, Climate-friendly Elephants and More 100-Degree Days
by Kelly Levin and Dennis Tirpak - August 19, 2019
This Month in Climate Science summarizes significant new research and provides a clearer picture of the threats posed by climate change. Studies published in July 2019, the world's hottest month on record, show that U.S. residents will see double or triple the number of days exceeding 100 degrees F.

Commentaries

Climate Action for Today and Tomorrow: The Relationship between NDCs and LTSs

September 19, 2019

This commentary explores how two critical elements of the Paris Agreement – nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and long-term strategies (LTSs) – relate to one another, and how countries can allocate resources efficiently to develop both in a synergistic manner.

External Publications

"The Interplay between Accounting and Reporting on Mitigation Contributions under the Paris Agreement."
By Levin Kelly.
Carbon & Climate Law Review 12 (2018): 203-208 DOI: 10.21552/cclr/2018/3/6.

"Overcoming the tragedy of super wicked problems: constraining our future selves to ameliorate global climate change."
By Levin Kelly, Cashore Benjamin, Bernstein Steven, Auld Graeme.
Policy Sciences 45 (2012): 123-152 DOI: 10.1007/s11077-012-9151-0.

"National GHG emissions reduction pledges and 2°C: comparison of studies."
By Höhne Niklas, Taylor Christopher, Elias Ramzi, Elzen Michel Den, Riahi Keywan, Chen Claudine, Rogelj Joeri, Grassi Giacomo, Wagner Fabian, Levin Kelly, Massetti Emanuele, Xiusheng Zhao.
Climate Policy 12 (2012): 356-377 DOI: 10.1080/14693062.2011.637818.

"Building the Forest-Climate Bandwagon: REDD+ and the Logic of Problem Amelioration."
By McDermott Constance, Levin Kelly, Cashore Benjamin.
Global Environmental Politics 11 (2011): 85-103 DOI: 10.1162/GLEP_a_00070.

"Tradeoffs in the Policy Process in Advancing Climate Change Adaptation: The Case of Australia's Great Eastern Ranges Initiative."
By Levin Kelly, Petersen Brian.
Journal of Natural Resources Policy Research 3 (2011): 145-162 DOI: 10.1080/19390459.2011.557879.

"The Climate Regime as Global Forest Governance: Can Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) Initiatives Pass a ‘Dual Effectiveness’ Test?."
By Levin Kelly, McDermott C., Cashore B..
International Forestry Review 10 (2008): 538-549 DOI: 10.1505/ifor.10.3.538.

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Kelly Levin

CO2 Emissions Climb to an All-Time High (Again) in 2019: 6 Takeaways from the Latest Climate Data

Cuatro Prioridades para la Cumbre Climática COP25 en Madrid

What You Need to Know About Article 6 of the Paris Agreement

4 Priorities for the COP25 Climate Conference in Madrid

This Month in Climate Science, September 2019: Ocean and Ice Warning; Lost Birds; Pancake Breakfast at Risk?

4 Things to Know About the IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere

This Month in Climate Science, August 2019: Persistent Summers, Bumpier Plane Rides and More Heat Deaths

What Does "Net-Zero Emissions" Mean? 6 Common Questions, Answered

From Climate Researcher to Climate Spectator: Witnessing a Melting Arctic

This Month in Climate Science, July 2019: Raccoon Explosions, Climate-friendly Elephants and More 100-Degree Days

Climate Action for Today and Tomorrow: The Relationship between NDCs and LTSs

Making Sense of Article 6: Key Issues and What's at Stake

Commentary: Climate Action for Today and Tomorrow: The Relationship between NDCs and LTSs

Enhancing NDCs: A Guide to Strengthening National Climate Plans

Good Governance for Long-Term Low-Emissions Development Strategies

Scaling Up Ambition: Leveraging Nationally Determined Contributions and Long-Term Strategies to Achieve the Paris Agreement Goals

Tracking Progress of the 2020 Climate Turning Point

Long-Term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategies: Approaches and Methodologies for Their Design

Foundational Questions on Carbon Removal in the United States

Technological Carbon Removal in the United States

Recommendations For Accounting for Mitigation Components of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) Under the Paris Agreement

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