Lisa Speer's Blog
About
- Bio:
I direct the International Oceans Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), an environmental organization dedicated to protecting natural resources and public health with offices in the United States and China.
My work currently focuses on conservation and management of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, and area known as the “high seas.” Comprising two thirds of the world’s oceans and 45% of the planet’s surface, this global commons faces an increasing array of poorly controlled human activities. I conduct advocacy in a variety of international fora to promote integrated, ecosystem based management of human activities on the high seas, with a particular focus on marine fisheries. I have served on US delegations to many high seas fisheries negotiations, and have testified before Congress and the United Nations on a variety of high seas management topics.
My other major focus is advocating for ecosystem based management in the marine Arctic. I served on Arctic TRANSFORM, an EU-sponsored forum to develop policy options for the marine Arctic from 2008 to 2009. I co-chair the working team responsible for preparing recommendations on marine management and governance for consideration by the Aspen Institute’s international Commission on Climate Change and the Arctic.
I served on the National Academy of Sciences’ Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology from 2001-2007. I have also served on NAS Committees on the Arctic and on marine environmental monitoring. I received her Master’s degree from Yale University and my bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College.
- Roots in:
- Upstate New York and the Adirondack mountains
- Favorite place:
- Osgood Pond, in the Adirondacks
- Why "environmentalism" matters:
- My three kids, 18, 13 and 10.
Recent Blog Posts
- Video from HSH the Prince of Monaco at the U.N. during Climate Week (September 23, 2009)
- The U.S. Should Sign the Law of the Sea Treaty (June 8, 2009)
- Managing a melting Arctic (April 29, 2009)
Read more in Lisa Speer's Archives→
- Lisa Speer
- Director of the International Oceans Program
- New York