Eileen Claussen
Encyclopedia
Eileen B. Claussen is the President of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing credible information and developing innovative solutions in the effort to address global climate change
. She is also the President of Strategies for the Global Environment, the umbrella organization for the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.
, and her M.A. in English from the University of Virginia
. She began her career with positions at Booz Allen Hamilton
, Boise Cascade
, and the United States Department of Defense
. She then joined the Environmental Protection Agency, where she served as the Director of the office of Solid Waste Characterization and Assessment Division and the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.
(EPA). She was responsible for activities related to the depletion of the ozone layer; Title IV of the Clean Air Act
; and the EPA’s energy efficiency programs, including the Green Lights program and the Energy Star
program. Claussen was instrumental in negotiating and implementing the Montreal Protocol
which curbed the production of CFCs and other toxic chemicals. Norma M. Riccucci
argues that Claussen was extremely effective in the Montreal Protocol negotiations "because of her open, frank, and trustworthy style."
Claussen was credited as being an outstanding representative of the United States in international negotiations. Liz Cook of Friends of the Earth
argued that Claussen was a good representative for the United States because she was seen as less "arrogant" in negotiations than other U.S. representatives. She also achieved real success in working with industry on the Montreal Protocol, and was credited by industry officials as being "credible, scrupulous, attentive to the concerns of industry, and reasonable in dealing with these concerns."
.
From 1996 to 1998, Claussen served as Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
. She coordinated U.S. policy on the global environment on such issues as global warming
, biodiversity
, forest management, oceans, desertification, and trade and the environment, as well as on the environmental and sustainable development efforts of the multilateral banks and the United Nations
. She served as an adviser to the President and the Secretary of State, and represented the Department of State in international negotiations.
, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing credible information and developing innovative solutions in the effort to address global climate change
. Under Claussen's direction, the Pew Center has produced nearly 100 peer-reviewed reports and a broad collection of white papers and briefs by noted climate experts covering a range of critical topics including economics
, environmental impacts
, policy
, science
, business
, technology
and solutions. Claussen regularly testifies before the United States Congress
and meets with other key stakeholders to share ideas for addressing climate change. She established the Pew Center's Business Environmental Leadership Council (BELC), which became the largest U.S.-based association of companies committed to advancing both policy and business solutions to climate change.
According to a 2001 profile in Green@Work magazine,
, the Singapore Energy Advisory Committee, the Ecomagination Advisory Board, the Natural Gas Council, the Harvard Environmental Economics Program Advisory Panel, and the U.S. Commodity Future Trading Commission’s Advisory Committee.
During her career, Claussen has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Fitzhugh Green Award for Outstanding Contributions to International Environmental Protection, the Meritorious Executive Award for Sustained Superior Accomplishment. She is the recipient of the Department of State’s Career Achievement Award and the Distinguished Executive Award for Sustained Extraordinary Accomplishment. She also served as the Timothy Atkeson Scholar in Residence at Yale University
.
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
. She is also the President of Strategies for the Global Environment, the umbrella organization for the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.
Education and Early Career
Claussen grew up in South Africa, where she developed an interest in the environment and the natural landscape. She received her B.A. from George Washington UniversityGeorge Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
, and her M.A. in English from the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. She began her career with positions at Booz Allen Hamilton
Booz Allen Hamilton
Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. , or more commonly Booz Allen, is an American public consulting firm headquartered in McLean, Fairfax County, Virginia, with 80 other offices throughout the United States. Ralph Shrader is its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The firm was founded by Edwin Booz in...
, Boise Cascade
Boise Cascade
Boise Cascade Holdings, LLC, which uses the trade name Boise, is an American pulp and paper company, ranked as the thirteenth largest forest products company in the world....
, and the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
. She then joined the Environmental Protection Agency, where she served as the Director of the office of Solid Waste Characterization and Assessment Division and the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.
Director of the Office of Atmospheric Programs
Between 1987 and 1993, Claussen was Director of the Office of Atmospheric Programs for the United States Environmental Protection AgencyUnited States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
(EPA). She was responsible for activities related to the depletion of the ozone layer; Title IV of the Clean Air Act
Clean Air Act (United States)
The Clean Air Act is a United States federal law enacted by Congress, and signed by President Richard Nixon on December 31, 1970 to control air pollution on a national level. It requires the Environmental Protection Agency to develop and enforce regulations to protect the general public from...
; and the EPA’s energy efficiency programs, including the Green Lights program and the Energy Star
Energy Star
Energy Star is an international standard for energy efficient consumer products originated in the United States of America. It was first created as a United States government program during the early 1990s, but Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan and the European Union have also adopted...
program. Claussen was instrumental in negotiating and implementing the Montreal Protocol
Montreal Protocol
The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion...
which curbed the production of CFCs and other toxic chemicals. Norma M. Riccucci
Norma M. Riccucci
Norma M. Riccucci is a Professor of Public Administration at the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers University in Newark. She is a scholar in the field of Public Administration. An authority on issues related to affirmative action and public management, Dr...
argues that Claussen was extremely effective in the Montreal Protocol negotiations "because of her open, frank, and trustworthy style."
Claussen was credited as being an outstanding representative of the United States in international negotiations. Liz Cook of Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth International is an international network of environmental organizations in 76 countries.FOEI is assisted by a small secretariat which provides support for the network and its agreed major campaigns...
argued that Claussen was a good representative for the United States because she was seen as less "arrogant" in negotiations than other U.S. representatives. She also achieved real success in working with industry on the Montreal Protocol, and was credited by industry officials as being "credible, scrupulous, attentive to the concerns of industry, and reasonable in dealing with these concerns."
Senior Government Positions
Between 1993 and 1996, Claussen served as a Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Global Environmental Affairs at the National Security CouncilNational Security Council
A National Security Council is usually an executive branch governmental body responsible for coordinating policy on national security issues and advising chief executives on matters related to national security...
.
From 1996 to 1998, Claussen served as Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
The Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs is the head of the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs in the United States Department of State...
. She coordinated U.S. policy on the global environment on such issues as global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
, biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
, forest management, oceans, desertification, and trade and the environment, as well as on the environmental and sustainable development efforts of the multilateral banks and the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. She served as an adviser to the President and the Secretary of State, and represented the Department of State in international negotiations.
Pew Center on Global Climate Change
In 1998, Claussen founded the Pew Center on Global Climate ChangePew Center on Global Climate Change
The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions transitioned from the Pew Center on Global Climate Change in November 2011 under the leadership of its president, Eileen Claussen...
, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing credible information and developing innovative solutions in the effort to address global climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
. Under Claussen's direction, the Pew Center has produced nearly 100 peer-reviewed reports and a broad collection of white papers and briefs by noted climate experts covering a range of critical topics including economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
, environmental impacts
Environmental degradation
Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife...
, policy
Policy
A policy is typically described as a principle or rule to guide decisions and achieve rational outcome. The term is not normally used to denote what is actually done, this is normally referred to as either procedure or protocol...
, science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
, technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
and solutions. Claussen regularly testifies before the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and meets with other key stakeholders to share ideas for addressing climate change. She established the Pew Center's Business Environmental Leadership Council (BELC), which became the largest U.S.-based association of companies committed to advancing both policy and business solutions to climate change.
According to a 2001 profile in Green@Work magazine,
Her insistence on engaging and recognizing the influence of the private sector has earned Claussen a reputation of being somewhat of a maverick in the NGO community, but she says she is convinced that solutions that do not make economic sense will eventually follow the declining path of the oceans, ecosystems, species and natural resources the Pew Center is trying to protect. In fact, the joint statement of the BELC states, “We believe that the response must be cost-effective, global and equitable, and also allow for economic growth based on free market principles.”
Honors
Claussen is a member of the Council on Foreign RelationsCouncil on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
, the Singapore Energy Advisory Committee, the Ecomagination Advisory Board, the Natural Gas Council, the Harvard Environmental Economics Program Advisory Panel, and the U.S. Commodity Future Trading Commission’s Advisory Committee.
During her career, Claussen has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Fitzhugh Green Award for Outstanding Contributions to International Environmental Protection, the Meritorious Executive Award for Sustained Superior Accomplishment. She is the recipient of the Department of State’s Career Achievement Award and the Distinguished Executive Award for Sustained Extraordinary Accomplishment. She also served as the Timothy Atkeson Scholar in Residence at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
.