I’ve had the great pleasure throughout my career to have been able to pursue a passion to address climate change mitigation and adaption. For 34 years, I worked in the energy efficiency/policy industry developing and implementing large scale utility-run, customer-focused energy efficiency programs initially across New England at National Grid and then across North America at E Source for 10 years. Six years ago, I shifted from energy efficiency/policy to the critical role forests play in mitigating climate change and how to build climate resilient forests for all their benefits, initially with an emphasis on the ability of forest to sequester and store millions of tons of carbon dioxide. I have since expanded my focus to include other forest management strategies to preserve and build our forests for climate and future generations. So what’s the connection between energy efficiency and forestry? There are many parallels. When utilities first started offering energy efficiency programs, the challenge was how utilities could offer programs that reduced the kilowatt-hours their revenue was based on. How could utilities invest in this endeavor and be rewarded for doing so? Ultimately, we came up with creative solutions that have resulted in a multi-billion dollar industry across the country now with a strong emphasis on electrification. Likewise, with forests and forest carbon, an invaluable natural climate solution, rewarding landowners for protecting their forests for climate mitigation has become a central goal of the voluntary carbon markets. Private landowners, like myself with a 175 acre farm in Vermont, own 40% of all forested land so we all can play an essential role in protecting forests for their myriad benefits. Voluntary carbon markets are just one path toward this goal. They hold great promise. Immersing myself in this industry has enabled me to fully engage in my passion for addressing climate change working with a wide range of organizations across New England and the U.S. and with thousands of wonderful landowners. I’ve found it rewarding to apply my skills and experience in one industry to another that’s now front and center to addressing climate change.