Treasury Appoints Ethan Zindler as Climate Counselor to Drive Net-Zero Economy
Today, Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen announced the appointment of Ethan Zindler as the Treasury Department’s new Climate Counselor. In his new role, Zindler will lead the Treasury Climate Hub, reporting directly to Secretary Yellen and providing advice on a wide range of climate matters. His primary responsibility will be to spearhead Treasury’s efforts to facilitate and enable the financing necessary to achieve a net-zero economy both domestically and internationally.
Secretary Yellen expressed her satisfaction with Zindler’s appointment, highlighting his extensive experience and expertise in the climate field. She emphasized the importance of taking decisive action to combat climate change, not only for the sake of the planet but also for the global economy.
The Treasury’s Climate Hub was established in April 2021 with the goal of implementing a coordinated climate policy strategy. It leverages the full power of the Treasury Department to address climate change through domestic and international policymaking, with a particular focus on finance and financial risk mitigation. The Hub aims to position the economy for strong and sustainable growth in line with a net-zero emissions future.
Over the past two years, the Climate Hub has played a crucial role in advancing the Treasury Department’s climate agenda. It has brought together expertise from various departments, including Domestic Finance, Economic Policy, International Affairs, and Tax Policy, to develop and promote a robust climate finance framework.
Under Secretary Yellen’s leadership, the Treasury Department has achieved significant progress in addressing climate change. Notably, they implemented the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate change-related investment in the nation’s history. Additionally, the Department has been instrumental in negotiating Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) with high-emitting emerging markets like South Africa and Indonesia. These partnerships have resulted in the largest ever public-private climate finance commitment, unlocking substantial financing to support their energy transitions. Moreover, the Treasury Department has launched initiatives to assess and address climate-related risks to the economy.
Ethan Zindler brings a wealth of experience to his new role as Climate Counselor. As the former Head of Americas at BloombergNEF (BNEF), a renowned provider of data and research on clean energy, Zindler has extensive knowledge of clean power, electric vehicles, carbon credit markets, and other aspects of the transition to a lower-carbon economy. He played a pivotal role in creating Climatescope, a public resource that annually assesses clean energy investment conditions in emerging market economies. Zindler has also authored numerous reports on climate and clean energy, focusing on climate finance in developing nations.
Zindler holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA from Georgetown University. He resides in Alexandria, VA, with his wife and two daughters.
In conclusion, the appointment of Ethan Zindler as Climate Counselor reinforces the Treasury Department’s commitment to addressing climate change and achieving a net-zero economy. Zindler’s expertise and leadership will be instrumental in driving the Treasury’s efforts to facilitate the necessary financing for clean energy investments both at home and abroad. With the Treasury’s Climate Hub at the forefront, the Department aims to make significant strides in tackling climate change and fostering a sustainable future for all.
