Suzanne Russo
Fellow; Director, Environmental Justice Initiative
Suzanne Russo is a fellow at Resources for the Future and the director of the Environmental Justice Initiative, focusing on equitability in the climate transition. Prior to joining RFF, Russo spent five years as the CEO for Pecan Street Inc.—a nonprofit organization working to advance data and technology solutions for the climate crisis—and held several other roles during her 13-year tenure. While serving as CEO, Russo expanded Pecan Street’s focus from distributed energy resources to include techno-socio-environmental research and solutions development for transit and climate-beneficial agriculture as well as founding the Center for Race, Energy & Climate Justice. She has PI’d research projects funded by DOE, NSF, USDA, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Previously, she served as Director of Sustainability for New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation & Development where she led the creation, financing, and implementation of comprehensive green building and retrofit policies for the city’s affordable housing stock that are still used today.
Russo has served on several nonprofit board of directors and consulted for others, helping to increase the impact of under-represented communities in deciding how to mitigate climate change, improve local health factors, and transition to decarbonized systems. As an undergraduate and graduate student researcher, Russo conducted research in Africa, China, and India, and on Latin America. Her work explored the effects of community input through survey-based research and participatory mapping on policy development in the areas of gender, infrastructure, and indigenous rights.
Education
- MA in Community and Regional Planning, University of Texas at Austin
- BS in Humanities with a focus on community-based natural resources management, University of Texas at Austin
Featured Content
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In Focus — Nov 27, 2024
In Focus: Environmental and Energy Justice in Climate Policy
This video shares insights about the key components of energy justice and the incorporation of environmental justice in recent climate policy, with RFF Fellow Suzanne Russo.
Common Resources — Nov 13, 2024
The Future of Environmental and Energy Justice
Shalanda Baker and Suzanne Russo discuss environmental justice in the context of the clean energy transition, Baker’s work on equity at the US Department of Energy, and collaboration among communities and policymakers.
Working Paper — Oct 22, 2024
Developing a Carbon Dioxide Removal Program in California
In this working paper, the authors explore the design and policy challenges of developing a Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) program in California, offering insights on scaling CDR technologies while ensuring environmental justice.
Webinar — Oct 28, 2024
Environmental Justice in Regulatory Decisionmaking
Environmental Justice in Regulatory Decisionmaking
Working Paper — Oct 22, 2024
Developing a Carbon Dioxide Removal Program in California
In this working paper, the authors explore the design and policy challenges of developing a Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) program in California, offering insights on scaling CDR technologies while ensuring environmental justice.
Testimony and Public Comments — Sep 21, 2024
Comments on the Cap-and-Invest Linkage Rulemaking
This public comment to the Washington State Department of Ecology examines the implementation of the emission containment reserve in the state's proposed Cap-and-Invest rule.
Working Paper — Aug 29, 2024
Equity in Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
This working paper examines how investments in electric vehicle charging stations could reduce—or exacerbate—societal inequalities.
Issue Brief — May 9, 2024
The Policy Landscape for Agricultural Bioenergy
This issue brief, the last in a series on agriculture greenhouse gas emissions policy, offers an introduction to bioenergy and relevant federal agricultural and nonagricultural policy.
Webinar — Oct 28, 2024
Environmental Justice in Regulatory Decisionmaking
Environmental Justice in Regulatory Decisionmaking
Policy Leadership Series — Oct 8, 2024
The Future of Environmental and Energy Justice: A Policy Leadership Series Event with Shalanda Baker
A conversation with energy justice expert Shalanda Baker on equity, partnership, and climate change
Environmental Justice Series — May 7, 2024
Minority Food Producers in the Climate Transition
A webinar examining the role of agricultural producers of color in the development of sustainable solutions for climate change.
In Focus — Nov 27, 2024
In Focus: Environmental and Energy Justice in Climate Policy
This video shares insights about the key components of energy justice and the incorporation of environmental justice in recent climate policy, with RFF Fellow Suzanne Russo.
Common Resources — Nov 13, 2024
The Future of Environmental and Energy Justice
Shalanda Baker and Suzanne Russo discuss environmental justice in the context of the clean energy transition, Baker’s work on equity at the US Department of Energy, and collaboration among communities and policymakers.
Resources Magazine — Oct 7, 2024
Putting Resources for the Future on the Map
The “souvenirs” that RFF researchers bring back from their global travels—new perspectives, knowledge, stories, and photos—show a world of Resources that are out there and worth sharing.
In Focus — May 23, 2024
In Focus: Equity in US Agricultural Policy
This video shares insights about how policymakers can improve equity in the Farm Bill and other US agricultural programs, with RFF Fellow Suzanne Russo.
