Allen Fawcett

Allen Fawcett is a Research Professor at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy and Director of the Joint Global Change Research Institute (JGCRI), a partnership between the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the University of Maryland. His work focuses on climate policy, economic analysis of climate interventions, and energy systems modeling. Fawcett holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Texas and a BA in Economics from the College of William & Mary.

He has held key roles in U.S. climate policy, including Deputy Associate Director for Energy & Climate at the White House Council on Environmental Quality (2010–2011) and Chief of the EPA’s Climate Economics Branch (2012–2024). His research has informed international climate negotiations, including contributions to the Paris Agreement and the U.S. Midcentury Strategy. He co-authored influential papers like Can Paris Pledges Avert Severe Climate Change? (2015) and Can Updated Climate Pledges Limit Warming Well Below 2°C? (2021).

Fawcett leads the JGCRI, which bridges human, energy, and environmental systems research. He collaborates with global institutions like the IPCC and chairs initiatives such as the Stanford Energy Modeling Forum’s EMF 24, 32, and 37 studies. His recent work examines policy pathways for achieving net-zero emissions, including analyses of the Inflation Reduction Act’s impacts on U.S. energy systems and equity considerations in decarbonization.