Ellie Cohen

Ellie Cohen, CEO of The Climate Center, is a leader in catalyzing cross-boundary, collaborative, and just responses to the climate crisis. She oversees the Climate-Safe California campaign to remove more climate pollution than we are emit by 2030-- catalyzing the nation and the world into accelerated, equitable climate action. Recent accomplishments under Ellie’s leadership include passing a new California law that requires the state to set ambitious goals for natural carbon sequestration; winning almost $2 billion for new state investments in residential solar and storage; and convening numerous California policymakers at the United Nations global climate meetings as an official NGO Observer.

Previously, Ellie served as President and CEO of Point Blue Conservation Science where she and the organization’s 160 scientists developed climate-smart conservation solutions for wildlife and people. During her 20-year tenure, the organization grew five-fold to a workforce of 200 with an annual budget of $14 million and secured ~$100 million of conservation investments in 2+ million acres of agricultural lands.

An honors graduate of Duke University (botany) and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government (MPP), Ellie has received numerous accolades including the Beyond Duke Alumni Award for Service and Leadership (2019), the National Park Service Pacific West Region Partnership Award (2018), and the Bay Nature Environmental Hero Award (2012). Ellie recently served as an appointed member of the San Anselmo Climate Action Commission. You can follow Ellie on  Twitter and LinkedIn.