City Strategist, American Cities Climate Challenge NRDC
Irene Nielson spent 14 years at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, directing a host of programs out of their New York office, including local climate change showcase programs both nationally and internationally. She also helped to establish a new air quality citizen-science program focusing on environmental justice communities. Nielson holds a bachelor’s in urban and environmental planning from the University of Virginia School of Architecture and an M.P.A. from the Columbia University School of International & Public Affairs. She is based in NRDC’s New York office.