James Bradbury assumes new role at GCC: Director of Research & Policy Analysis

We are thrilled to announce that James Bradbury, PhD, will be taking on a new role as Director of Research and Policy Analysis for the Georgetown Climate Center. In his new position, Dr. Bradbury will oversee the strategic direction of GCC’s technical analysis of state and federal climate change policies and supervise advanced research and writing projects on ways state, local, federal, and Tribal governments are responding to the climate crisis. Bradbury’s new responsibilities will encompass research across GCC’s programs, including adaptation and resilience efforts as well as policies aimed at reducing climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions. He will also continue leadership of key elements of GCC’s work that he has built, including projects on clean transportation policies and strategies.

Since 2017, Bradbury has been GCC’s Director of Mitigation Programs, leading the Center’s work to support states and the federal government in designing and implementing effective and equitable pollution-reduction policies. Bradbury has also been the principal investigator on the Center’s highly influential analysis of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s (BIL) potential impact on greenhouse gas emissions. A 2021 study he led found that if states steered the BIL’s transportation investments into vehicle electrification, transit, repair of existing roads, and other low-carbon transportation strategies, the bill could accelerate progress on climate change pollution, but if the money is spent building new highways or expanding existing ones, the net impact could be an increase in emissions over business as usual.

"James’ work on the BIL showed just how powerful quantitative analysis of policy proposals can be in helping ensure that they are well-designed and executed,” said GCC Executive Director, Kate Zyla. “Having James focused on developing smart, actionable research products, tools, and analysis will be a tremendous asset for GCC. James is also skilled at explaining analytical results to policymakers, stakeholders, and the media, which is critically important when it comes to connecting analysis with real-world decision-making. GCC is very lucky to have James leading this crucial area of our work.”

“I’m very proud of everything that the GCC mitigation team has been able to accomplish, supporting and informing more ambitious climate action," said Bradbury. "I’m excited to build on those accomplishments and devote my attention to expanding the impact of our analytical work – for mitigation and adaptation – particularly in collaboration with our state and federal partners, whose leadership is so critical for tackling every aspect of climate change.”

Image above: Bradbury shares GCC's work and opportunities for students at a Georgetown Law Centers & Institutes open house

Image above: Bradbury facilitating a discussion hosted by GCC to bring together states leading on low-carbon transportation