Climate Change and California: Policy and Technology Innovation Advancement to Stem a Global Crisis

As drought persists and wildfires rage, the impacts of  climate change to California are increasingly apparent.  Amidst these challenges, our state is leading the way to combat this crisis by reducing carbon pollution while growing our economy.  State laws and policies call for expanding clean energy, enabling zero emission transportation and spurring net-zero energy buildings.  Achieving these outcomes relies on unprecedented technology innovation and deployment, which requires  close linkages between new governmental policies/programs and emerging technologies.  Wade will provide an update on California’s climate change actions and discuss state government efforts to catalyze technology solutions to the climate challenge. 

Presenter(s)

Wade Crowfoot serves as Deputy Cabinet Secretary and Senior Advisor to Governor Brown.  Wade’s portfolio includes transportation, infrastructure, military and veterans issues.  Recently, he has led an effort to expand zero-emission vehicles in California and build international partnerships with China and other countries to fight climate change.  Also, as the Governor’s Military Advisor, Wade works to strengthen California’s support for federal military bases located in the state.

Prior to joining Governor Brown’s Administration, Wade served as Regional Director for the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and as senior environmental advisor to San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.   Wade holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master's Degree in Public Policy from the London School of Economics, where he graduated with honors.