Derek Walker

Derek Walker is the Vice President for U.S. Climate at Environmental Defense Fund, where he oversees all of EDF’s climate work in the U.S., including the federal climate campaign to secure an ambitious limit and price on carbon at the national level, as well as our advocacy for market-based policies in states including California, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon, and potentially others.

In over a decade at EDF, he served as EDF’s Chief of Staff and as Associate Vice President in the Global Climate program where he managed EDF’s work on carbon markets, a major focus of the organization’s climate agenda. Derek is a recognized expert on climate change issues, led EDF’s California-based climate program for several years, and has helped facilitate partnerships and build capacity among jurisdictions looking to take ambitious climate action and learn from California’s example. Derek was the long-time chair of EDF’s Diversity Committee, helping EDF create and implement its first-ever diversity strategic plan. Prior to joining EDF, Derek was Executive Director of the Maryland Democratic Party and Senior Vice President of the Hawthorn Group, a public affairs firm.