Bob Perciasepe

Senior Adviser, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions

Bob Perciasepe is the former President and currently serves as a Senior Adviser to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), which is widely recognized in the United States and internationally as a leading, independent voice for practical policy and action to address our energy and climate challenges.

Mr. Perciasepe has been an environmental policy leader in and outside government for more than 40 years, most recently as Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He is a respected expert on environmental stewardship, natural resource management, and public policy, and has built a reputation for bringing stakeholders together to solve issues.

While Mr. Perciasepe served as Deputy Administrator from 2009 to 2014, EPA set stricter auto emissions and mileage standards, increased protections for the nation’s streams and rivers, and developed carbon emissions standards for power plants. Mr. Perciasepe was previously assistant administrator for both the agency’s water and clean air programs, leading efforts to improve the safety of America’s drinking water and development of a new infrastructure revolving fund for drinking water. He also led efforts to lower sulfur levels in gasoline and diesel fuel to reduce smog.

In 2002, Mr. Perciasepe joined the National Audubon Society, one of the nation’s oldest conservation organizations, as its senior vice president for public policy. He served as the group’s chief operating officer from 2004 to 2009, and worked to protect wetlands and expand environmental education, especially in urban areas.

He has also held top positions in state and municipal government—as Secretary of the Environment for the state of Maryland from 1990 to 1993 and as a senior planning official for the city of Baltimore, where he managed the city’s capital budget.

Mr. Perciasepe is a member of the Bank of America National Community Advisory Council and a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. He serves on the boards of the Keystone Policy Center and the Environmental Law Institute. He has received American University’s William K. Reilly Award for Environmental Leadership, the Chesapeake Water Environment Association’s Able Wolman Award, the American Lung Association’s Distinguished Service Award, and the Walter G. Wells Conservation Award.

Mr. Perciasepe holds a master’s degree in planning and public administration from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Science degree in natural resources from Cornell University.

Posts by Bob Perciasepe

Blog Post
Pulling the Levers for Change on Industrial Carbon Emissions
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A net-zero by 2050 commitment needs an aggressive interim target
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A powerful start toward ambitious, durable climate policy
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Inaugurating hope for ambitious climate solutions
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New hope on climate – Here’s what we know
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Growing commitment to a net-zero future
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Tackling Our Twin Crises
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Looking toward recovery, with climate in mind
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Carrying on with climate solutions: A message from Bob Perciasepe on COVID-19
Press Release
Carrying on with climate solutions: A message from Bob Perciasepe on COVID-19
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The Building Blocks for Climate Leadership in the 2020s
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Is the EV tax credits plan a sign of climate momentum?
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A fresh start on climate solutions
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Why I see hope for climate action in Washington
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One small step for Congress
Article
The Paris Agreement Presents a Flexible Approach for U.S. Climate Policy

This article first appeared in Volume 11, Number 4 of the Carbon and Climate Law Review. The Paris Agreement was specifically designed to provide sovereign nations with the flexibility they need to craft their own greenhouse gas reduction plans. The …

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Blog Post
Introducing Climate Innovation 2050
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A year of remarkable progress in the spirit of Paris
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A New Zero Emission Coalition?
Article
Forward Thinking: A Road Map to Resilience

The following was published Feb. 1, 2018 on the Urban Institute’s “Using Dollars with Sense: Ideas for Better Infrastructure Choices” page. The economic imperative of investing in our nation’s infrastructure is widely recognized. But often overlooked is the opportunity such …

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Blog Post
2018 Will Belong to ‘The Climate Doers’
Speech
Letter to Gov. Brown: We support extending cap and trade
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Connecticut seeks to support nuclear energy
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The clean-energy transition is powering the U.S. economy
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Year Ahead: We must strengthen climate action wherever possible
Speech
Bob Perciasepe’s remarks at Harvard University
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Canada, Mexico, US should collaborate on climate
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Climate Innovation: Imagine how we can beat expectations next
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C2ES and The US Conference of Mayors team up on climate
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States, cities, companies support clean power
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Clean power progress will continue despite Supreme Court ruling
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Building on the climate successes of 2015
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Taking the lead at the climate talks
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Paris climate talks: This could be the start of something big
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Businesses are taking climate action
Speech
Bob Perciasepe’s remarks at the Pacific Northwest Pollution Resource Center
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There’s growing business momentum for climate action
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Why businesses, states and cities must collaborate on climate
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How states can best promote clean power
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EPA’s Clean Power Plan puts states in the driver’s seat
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Companies pledge climate action
Speech
Bob Perciasepe’s remarks at the Innovative Financing and Clean Power Solutions Forum
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Pope Francis highlights the moral imperative of climate action
Speech
Bob Perciasepe’s remarks at the Energy Efficiency and IT Solutions Forum
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How can we use intelligent efficiency to reduce power sector emissions?
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States should explore carbon pricing to encourage clean power
Speech
Bob Perciasepe’s remarks at the Carbon Pricing and Clean Power Solutions Forum
Speech
Bob Perciasepe’s remarks for the National Association of Clean Water Agencies
Speech
Bob Perciasepe’s prepared remarks for the U.S. Conference of Mayors
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Climate progress in 2014 sets the stage for 2015 action
Speech
Bob Perciasepe’s prepared remarks for the Power-Gen International Conference
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5 ideas for EPA’s Clean Power Plan
Speech
Bob Perciasepe’s prepared remarks for the Missouri Governor’s Conference on Natural Resources
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Companies are part of the equation to address climate change
Speech
Bob Perciasepe’s prepared remarks at the One Water Leadership Summit
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My mission at C2ES: Building common ground