Kevin Kennedy

Kevin Kennedy is a senior fellow in the U.S. Climate Initiative in the Global Climate Program. The Initiative is working to make the economic, technical and political case for deep emissions reductions in the U.S. in the coming decades. Kevin helps lead WRI’s work on subnational climate action in the U.S., including overseeing WRI’s work on America’s Pledge, and also contributes to the US Climate Initiative’s work on carbon pricing in the U.S. Prior to joining WRI, Kevin led the Office of Climate Change as Assistant Executive Officer at the California Air Resources Board (CARB). In this role, he oversaw implementation of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32), including development of California’s cap-and-trade program and the range of other measures the state is using to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Before joining CARB, Kevin worked for the California Energy Commission, including time as special adviser to Energy Commission Chairman Joseph Desmond and then to Commissioner Jeffrey D. Byron. While at the Energy Commission, he also managed the 2005 Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) proceeding, which provided a comprehensive review of California’s energy policy. Kevin holds a Ph.D. from the Energy and Resources Group at University of California, Berkeley, and has more than 20 years’ experience in energy and environmental policy.