James brings more than a decade of policy experience to his work at Climate Solutions, where he leads the organization’s efforts to advance bold and equitable climate progress in Washington state. He’s a firm believer in the power of state leadership to push the needle on climate. James is driven by the belief that good policy starts with the people most affected by it, and that climate action must be both ambitious and inclusive to be effective. Known for his collaborative approach and creative problem-solving, James is passionate about tackling the toughest challenges in climate, surfacing new solutions, and helping turn “no” into “yes”.

Before joining Climate Solutions, James served in climate leadership roles at the White House and U.S. Department of Transportation. There, he helped launch major federal initiatives to decarbonize industry, advance clean transportation solutions, and integrate climate priorities into public investments. He stood up a new agency-wide Buy Clean policy, and worked accross federal agencies to advance the Federal Buy Clean Initiative, culminating in commitments from the public and private sector to dramatically reduce emissions. Before joining the federal government, James worked in both state and local government in his home state of Minnesota.

James holds a Masters of Public Policy from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs and a B.A. in Political Science, History, and American Studies from the University of Minnesota. In his spare time, James and his family can be found camping around the Pacific Northwest, playing games with friends, and visiting family and friends back in Minnesota and Washington, DC.