Climate Focus

The Honorable Claudine Schneider

SUMMARY STATEMENT

Since 1989, solving the climate crisis has been part of my DNA, from briefing Margaret Thatcher and leading a BBC climate film with Prince Charles; to introducing the nation’s first and only revenue-neutral climate bill; to the present moment working with two remarkable climate-related start-ups. I have served in policy, executive and consulting roles and am committed to solving this challenge!

• The New York Times profiled my climate leadership: When Did Moral Clarity Become Radical?

• View 2021 interview with Claudine Schneider from the Yale University Climate Center on her longtime climate policy leadership

CLIMATE-RELATED ACCOMPLISHMENTS

U.S. Congresswoman 

• Served from 1981-1991 (R-R.I.) on the Science, Research & Technology Committee. Achievements include:

  • Writing the first and only revenue-neutral Global Warming Prevention Act, with 140 bipartisan cosponsors

  • Passage of the nation’s first Appliance Efficiency Standards legislation (Energy Star Program)

  • Least Cost Utility Planning/Demand-side Management Act

  • International Treaty on Biological Diversity, signed by President Reagan

  • Co-founded the Congressional Competitiveness Caucus along with former CEO of Hewlett Packard, John Young. It was the largest bicameral, bipartisan caucus to date. We hosted, with CEO’s of various corporations, monthly briefings focused on boosting America’s competitiveness 

  • Appointed by President Bill Clinton to the federal Competitiveness Policy Council.

AWARDS & HONORS

• Received an Emmy Award for initiating and co-producing “Capital to Capital” on ABC - a five-part series, bridging U.S. & Soviet relations.

• Rensselaer Polytechnic: Honorary Doctorate for my energy efficiency leadership

• EPA: Nominated as Global Climate Leader

• Science Hall of Fame: Ranked #387 (of 4,000-plus) for my cultural footprint by weighing scientific impact

• Climate Institute: First Award Recipient

• Solar Energy Industries Association: Sunny Solar Award

• American Wind Energy Association: Leadership Award

1991

• Taught Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School

• Co-Authored “Greenhouse Glasnost” with Robert Redford

• Contributed to “The Planetary Interest,” Oxford University Press

  • Only American to be selected to contribute to this vision of a more united world, beyond nation states

1992-2000

Co-Founder and Executive Vice President - Energia Global

• An international energy efficiency/renewable energy company, with a joint venture in Costa Rica. Designed a successful market strategy; raised the capital; interfaced with the Inter-American Development Bank; and helped meet the ten-year exit strategy successfully. The intent was to demonstrate that addressing climate provided economic opportunities for workers, investors and founders.

2001-2020

Climate Mitigation Business Professional & Consultant

• Sr. Vice President of Econergy

  • Enlisted 50 Fortune 500 corporations for the EPA’s Climate Leaders Program (From Raytheon to Bank of America, Target to Tiffany’s) and was later nominated by the EPA as a “Climate Leader”

• President of the Solar Alliance, a state-focused trade association committed to expanding PV by accelerating statewide policies essential for market penetration. Identified ”winnable” state markets; met with governors; testified before state legislatures to advocate for the necessary policies; represented 30 of the world’s largest solar manufacturers; and introduced NARUC to the costs and benefits of solar. We succeeded in advancing PV solar into 10 states.

• Advised (the U.K.) National Grid Board, one of the largest and (now) most progressive utilities in the world.

  • Facilitated its entry into the SRI/ESG group of stocks on the NYSE; identified best practices for its natural gas division; redirected its employee health coverage to the economically advantageous ”preventive” model.

• Advised the Colorado Public Utilities Commission on forecasting and on key issues for the coming decade.

• Advised Phytonix Corporation, which uses microorganisms to mitigate greenhouse gasses and to produce advanced biofuels.

• Developed a strategy to expand certification for “Green Builders” (carpenters, plumbers, etc.) by partnering with the American Association of Community Colleges and then developing a statewide pilot project with community colleges and conducting a webinar for Governors’ Offices on how to integrate such certifications into their own states.

• Air Force: conducted a futures scenario planning session with the regional joint chiefs of the U.S. Air Force

• Served as Regional Judge for the Clean Tech Open, which runs the world’s largest competition for clean tech entrepreneurs.

• Served on the Board of Mohawk Fine Papers as a Sustainability Guide, assisting them to minimize water and timber usage in their manufacturing.

CURRENTLY

• Advisor to Signal Climate Analytics, the pre-eminent climate analysis company of major industries

• Chair of the Oversight Committee of the Wilder Hill New Energy Global Innovation Index (NEX). One of the original members of the Advisory Committees for ECO Index for Clean Energy (since 2004), the NEX live since 2006, and the latest for Hydrogen Economy (H2X) and Wind Energy (WNX)

• ESG: Educating investors as to the risk-avoidance value of ESG investing. To date, moved $12 million into ESG funds.

• Erb Institute at the University of Michigan: helped launch Erb Principles for Corporate Political Responsibility in 2023

• Currently recommending investments into climate-mitigating start-ups.

BOARD SERVICE

• WilderHill New Energy Global Innovation Index Fund: The first global renewable energy Index Fund. Co-Chair - Oversight

• Niskanen Center: a D.C.-based Think Tank

• Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

• Ethical Markets 

• Taxpayers for Common Sense 

• Oxfam: Planetary Ambassador