Council CEO Greg Bertelsen Among Most Influential People Shaping Policy for Second Year Straight

May 7, 2024

WASHINGTON, DC – Climate Leadership Council CEO Greg Bertelsen was named to Washingtonian’s Most Influential People Shaping Policy list for the second consecutive year. The annual honor recognizes leaders making notable contributions to policy development in Washington, DC. Bertelsen was included in the climate and environment category.

“Greg Bertelsen is the rare leader with a strong aptitude for both policy nuance and political strategy. This is what makes him such an asset to the advancement of effective market-based climate solutions and our stakeholder community,” said Climate Leadership Council executive vice president and COO, Tiffany Adams. “On behalf of the Council team, I’d like to congratulate Greg for being named to Washingtonian’s Most Influential People Shaping Policy list once again in 2024!”

“It is an honor to be recognized alongside many esteemed peers and friends in the policy community. My inclusion on Washingtonian’s list is a testament to the excellence, ambition and collaborative-nature that the entire Climate Leadership Council staff brings to their work each day,” said Climate Leadership Council CEO Greg Bertelsen.

In last year’s introduction of the climate category, Washingtonian noted how “these subject-matter pros advocate and promote policies that balance economic growth with our planet’s future.” It’s an apt description for the Council, which prioritizes policies that would dramatically lower global emissions while economically benefitting American companies, workers and families. Since being named to Washingtonian’s list for the first time in 2023, Bertelsen and the Council have continued their push to explore and advance these types of policies.

Notable moments from the past year include:

  • The introduction of Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and Senator Kevin Cramer’s (R-ND) bipartisan PROVE IT Act, a bill that aims to replicate a Council study on America’s carbon efficiency advantage over key trading partners.
  • The introduction of Senator Bill Cassidy’s (R-LA) Foreign Pollution Fee Act, co-sponsored by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), the first comprehensive Republican-led climate bill.
  • The introduction of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representative Suzan DelBene’s (D-WA-1) Clean Competition Act, co-sponsored by Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) in the Senate and Representatives Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), Don Beyer (D-VA-08) and Ami Bera (D-CA-06) in the House of Representatives.
  • The introduction of Representative Brian Fitzpatrick’s (R-PA-1) MARKET CHOICE Act, co-sponsored by Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24).
  • The release of a first-of-its kind legal analysis which found that carbon import fees, including proposals currently being explored in the U.S. Congress, are permissible under the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
  • The announcement by the Biden Administration of a new climate and trade task force to explore harnessing trade policy to support global decarbonization.