- IPCC and National Climate Assessment Coordinating Lead author
- Almost two decades of experience in integrated assessment modeling and research
- Expert in long-term energy and mitigation strategy
Dr. Clarke is the Research Director for the Center for Global Sustainability (CGS), a Research Professor in the School of Public Policy, and a Research Scientist at the Joint Global Change Research Institute (JGCRI), a collaboration between the University of Maryland and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Dr. Clarke is an expert in energy and environmental issues, with a focus on climate change, climate change mitigation strategies, energy technology options, and integrated assessment modeling. At CGS, Dr. Clarke focuses on the use of quantitative methods and modeling in support of policy and other decisions. Current activities include low-emissions development strategies in China, India, and Latin America, energy-water-land planning in Latin America, and climate mitigation by U.S. cities, states and businesses. As Research Director, Dr. Clarke oversees the development and execution of CGS’s research portfolio.
Dr. Clarke formerly led the Integrated Human Earth System Science Group and directed a range of integrated assessment modeling activities at JGCRI. Dr. Clarke has served as an author and coordinating lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the National Climate Assessment, and the National Research Council. He is currently a coordinating lead author in the IPCC’s 6th Assessment Report. He has also led a number of multi-institution modeling studies on climate mitigation. He is the Co-Editor and Chief of the Energy and Climate Change. Dr. Clarke’s has worked at two U.S. national laboratories, in energy consulting, and at an electric and gas utility. He holds a Ph.D. in Management Science and Engineering and a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering.

The China Program at CGS integrates scientific research, education, policy analysis, and stakeholder engagement to help understand and inform the development and deployment of China’s climate, energy, and environment strategies across international, national, and local contexts.
Learn More about China Program
Our work at CGS builds a model integrating engagement, analysis, and multi-level governance that can provide the driving force for enhanced ambition.
Learn More about Analytics for Global Climate Ambition
CGS is taking a leadership role in research to advance collaborative, innovative climate action and policy through the third installation of its America’s Pledge: expanding our unique research and analysis, strategic engagement and communications to inform the US strategy leading up to 2030.
Learn More about America’s Pledge: Building a Comprehensive American Climate PolicySchool Authors: Nathan Hultman, Leon Clarke, Haewon McJeon, Yiyun 'Ryna' Cui, Alicia Zhao
Other Authors: Pete Hansel, Emily McGlynn, Kowan O'Keefe, John O'Neill, Celeste Wanner
School Authors: Nathan Hultman, Leon Clarke, Haewon McJeon, Yiyun 'Ryna' Cui, Alicia Zhao
Other Authors: Pete Hansel, Emily McGlynn, Kowan O'Keefe, John O'Neill, Celeste Wanner
School Authors: Nathan Hultman, Leon Clarke
Other Authors: Kevin Kennedy, Tom Cyrs, Wendy Jaglom , Carla Frisch , Andrew Light
School Authors: Leon Clarke, Sha Yu, Yiyun 'Ryna' Cui, Nathan Hultman, Jiehong Lou, Jiawei Song
Other Authors: Sha Fu, Xuan Du, Zhenhua Feng, Xuecheng Wang, Lingyan Chen, Zhuoxiang Yang, Junling Liu, Li Yang, Nicklas Forsell, Fei Guo, Volker Krey, Minpeng Chen, Ke Wang, Qimin Chai, Qiang Zhang
School Authors: Nathan Hultman, Leon Clarke, Haewon McJeon, Morgan Edwards, Yiyun 'Ryna' Cui, Christina Bowman, Jiehong Lou
Other Authors: Carla Frisch , Kevin Kennedy, Tom Cyrs, Pete Hansel, Paul Bodnar, Michelle Manion , Jessie Lund , Michael I. Westphal, Andrew Clapper , Joel Jaeger , Arijit Sen , Devashree Saha, Wendy Jaglom, Koben Calhoun, Kristin Igusky, James deWeese, Kareem Hammoud, J.C. Altimirano, Margaret Dennis, Chris Henderson, Gill Zwicker, John O'Neill
School Authors: Sha Yu, Yiyun 'Ryna' Cui, Haewon McJeon, Nathan Hultman, Leon Clarke
Other Authors: Brinda Yarlagadda
School Authors: Sha Yu, Yiyun 'Ryna' Cui, Haewon McJeon, Nathan Hultman, Leon Clarke
Other Authors: Brinda Yarlagadda
School Authors: Leon Clarke, Nathan Hultman, Christina Bowman
Other Authors: Wendy Jaglom , Carla Frisch , Kevin Kennedy , Tom Cyrs, Jessie Lunch, Devashree Saha , John Feldmann, John O'Neill , Mike Campton , Matt Herbert, Lesly Calle, Andrew Light, Paul Bodnar
School Authors: Yiyun 'Ryna' Cui, Nathan Hultman, Morgan Edwards, Christina Bowman, Leon Clarke
Other Authors: Kejun Jiang, Haewon McJeon, Sha Yu, Diyang Cui, Arijit Sen , Kaihui Song, Junjie Kang, Fuqiang Yang, Jiahai Yuan, Weirong Zhang
School Authors: Nathan Hultman, Leon Clarke, Christina Bowman, Morgan Edwards, Yiyun 'Ryna' Cui
Other Authors: Carla Frisch, Kevin Kennedy, Paul Bodnar, Pete Hansel, Tom Cyrs, Michelle Manion, Jessie Lund, Joel Jaeger, Andrew Clapper, Arijit Sen, Devashree Saha, Michael Westphal, Wendy Jaglom , Juan Carlos Altamirano, Maggie Dennis, Kareem Hammoud, Christopher Henderson, John O'Neill, Emily Goldfield








