Joanna Lewis

Joanna Lewis is the Provost’s Distinguished Associate Professor of Energy and Environment at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, where she directs the Science, Technology and International Affairs (STIA) Program. Her work focuses on international climate policy, U.S.-China relations, and clean energy transitions. Lewis has held roles at institutions such as the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the White House Council on Environmental Quality, leveraging her expertise in China’s energy policy and governance. She leads initiatives like the Clean Energy and Climate Research Group and the U.S.-China Research Dialogue on Climate Change, emphasizing Track II diplomacy to foster cooperation between the U.S. and China. Her research examines climate implications of green industrial policy, China’s energy innovations, and supply chain dynamics. Lewis teaches courses on global climate diplomacy and has brought Georgetown students to UN COP negotiations annually since 2009. Her books, including *Cooperating for the Climate* (2023) and *Green Innovation in China* (2012), highlight her contributions to understanding China’s role in global climate governance.

Her recent work addresses the tensions between decoupling strategies and climate goals, advocating for strategic engagement to accelerate low-carbon transitions. Lewis’s projects include analyzing the climate impact of AI, China’s Belt and Road Initiative’s environmental governance, and renewable energy finance mechanisms. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates technical, political, and geopolitical perspectives to address complex climate challenges.