About this event
What’s next for US climate policy? Insights from inside the government
Join us for an exclusive insider’s discussion on the evolving dynamics of US climate and energy policy in the face of political change. Hear from two former federal officials and climate policy experts as they share firsthand experience inside the government and offer insight into what to expect in President Trump’s second term.
Featuring:
- Rory Jacobson, former Director of the Carbon Dioxide Removal program at the US Department of Energy (DOE), now Head of Policy at Carbon Direct.
- Zara Ahmed, former federal official who served during the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations, now Chief Operating Officer at Carbon Direct.
Key takeaways:
- What the Biden administration achieved on climate, and what’s at stake moving forward.
- Key regulatory rollbacks, agency shifts, and their domestic and international implications.
- What businesses and advocates should watch for in a changing policy landscape.
Hosted by
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Guest speaker
Rory Jacobson Head of Policy @ Carbon DirectG
Rory Jacobson is the Head of Policy at Carbon Direct. Previously, he served as the Director of the Carbon Dioxide Removal program within the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). In previous roles at DOE, Jacobson has supported and coordinated FECM’s carbon removal and management programs and projects. Prior to joining DOE, Jacobson was a Deputy Director of Policy at Carbon180, where he managed the federal policy portfolio for engineered carbon removal pathways. He also served as a Science Advisor with Carbon Direct from 2019 to 2022, where he provided policy guidance and performed due diligence on carbon removal projects. He has led carbon management research and analysis in multiple roles, including with the Natural Resources Defense Council and the World Resources Institute, and Carbon Direct Inc. Jacobson received his master’s in environmental management from the Yale School of Forestry, where he was a Kerry Fellow.
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Guest speaker
Thad Woody policy analyst @ CDG
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Guest speaker
Zara Ahmed Chief Operating Officer @ Carbon DirectG
Dr. Zara Ahmed is responsible for marketing, policy, communication, coordination, and execution across Carbon Direct. Dr. Ahmed's primary focus is strategic planning, program development, and U.S. policy engagement. Prior to working at Carbon Direct, Dr. Ahmed was the Government Affairs and Policy Lead for the COVID-19 Response at the CDC. She rejoined CDC in August 2021 after two years at the Guttmacher Institute as the Associate Director for Federal Issues. Before her time at the Guttmacher Institute, Dr. Ahmed spent 10 years with CDC. She holds a BA in political science from Brown University, MPP and MPH degrees from the University of Michigan, a MBA from the University of Oklahoma, and a DrPH from the University of North Carolina, where she is also an adjunct faculty member.
Carbon Direct
Go from climate goal to climate action.Carbon Direct is a science-first carbon management firm that helps organizations reduce their carbon footprint with their end-to-end platform.
