Daniel C. Esty
Encyclopedia
Daniel C. Esty is the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the state agency with primary responsibility for protecting Connecticut’s environment, natural resources, and wildlife and for maintaining Connecticut’s state parks and forests http://www.ct.gov/dep/site/default.asp.
Esty was appointed to this position in March 2011 by Governor Dannel P. Malloy http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=4013&Q=474242&depNav_GID=1511.
Commissioner Esty is a sought after commentator on business, energy and climate change issues, and has been quoted in various publications such as The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal
, The Economist
, Scientific American
, and others. He is a frequent commentator on NPR
and has appeared on national TV talk shows such as The Colbert Report, The O'Reilly Factor
, and Glenn Beck
, to speak on issues of business innovation and the environment.
Esty holds a B.A. from Harvard, an M.A. from Oxford, and a law degree from Yale. He is married to former Connecticut State Representative Elizabeth Esty http://www.housedems.ct.gov/Esty/bio103.asp.
. He held faculty appointments in both Yale’s Environment
and Law
Schools. He also served as the Director of the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy
and the Center for Business & Environment at Yale.
Professor Esty was a Senior Fellow at the Institute for International Economics (1993–94), served in a variety of senior positions on the US Environmental Protection Agency (1989–93), and practiced law in Washington, DC (1986–89).
Professor Esty spent the 2000-01 academic year as a Visiting Professor at INSEAD
, the European business school in Fontainebleau
, France
. In 2002, Professor Esty received the American Bar Association
Award for Distinguished Achievement in Environmental Law and Policy for “pioneering a data-driven approach to environmental decision making” and developing the global Environmental Sustainability Index
. He served four years as an elected Planning and Zoning Commissioner in his hometown of Cheshire, Connecticut
. He also served as an energy and environmental policy advisor on the 2008 Obama Presidential campaign and as a member of the Presidential Transition Team.
He has advised companies across the world on energy, environment, and sustainability issues and serves as the Chairman of Esty Environmental Partners, a corporate environmental strategy group based in New Haven, CT. He sits on the Board of Directors of the American Farmland Trust, Resources for the Future, and the Connecticut Fund for the Environment.
In April 2011 Esty co-authored an op-ed for the New York Times entitled "Pain at the Pump. We need more". The article advocated higher carbon taxes so as to accelerate technological change. . The article proved problematic as the time Governor Dannel Malloy was proposing an unpopular increase in the Connecticut gas tax. Malloy later withdrew the gas tax increase from his budget package as a result of legislative opposition.
Esty's spouse, former state legislator Elizabeth Esty, is a Democratic candidate for Congress in Connecticut's 5th District
Esty was appointed to this position in March 2011 by Governor Dannel P. Malloy http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=4013&Q=474242&depNav_GID=1511.
Commissioner Esty is a sought after commentator on business, energy and climate change issues, and has been quoted in various publications such as The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
, The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
, Scientific American
Scientific American
Scientific American is a popular science magazine. It is notable for its long history of presenting science monthly to an educated but not necessarily scientific public, through its careful attention to the clarity of its text as well as the quality of its specially commissioned color graphics...
, and others. He is a frequent commentator on NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
and has appeared on national TV talk shows such as The Colbert Report, The O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor, originally titled The O'Reilly Report from 1996 to 1998 and often called The Factor, is an American talk show on the Fox News Channel hosted by commentator Bill O'Reilly, who often discusses current controversial political issues with guests.The program was the most watched...
, and Glenn Beck
Glenn Beck
Glenn Edward Lee Beck is an American conservative radio host, vlogger, author, entrepreneur, political commentator and former television host. He hosts the Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks...
, to speak on issues of business innovation and the environment.
Esty holds a B.A. from Harvard, an M.A. from Oxford, and a law degree from Yale. He is married to former Connecticut State Representative Elizabeth Esty http://www.housedems.ct.gov/Esty/bio103.asp.
Publications
Commissioner Esty is the author or editor of ten books and numerous articles on environmental policy issues and the relationships between environment and corporate strategy, competitiveness, trade, globalization, governance, and development. His recent prizewinning book, Green to Gold: How Smart Companies Use Environmental Strategy to Innovate, Create Value, and Build Competitive Advantage, argues that pollution control and natural resource management have become critical elements of marketplace success and explains how leading-edge companies have folded environmental thinking into their core business strategies.Professional History
Prior to joining the CT DEP, Commissioner Esty was the Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and Policy at Yale UniversityYale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. He held faculty appointments in both Yale’s Environment
Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies
The Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies is one of the graduate professional schools of Yale University. Founded to train foresters, it now trains leaders and creates new knowledge that will sustain and restore the health of the biosphere and the well-being of its people...
and Law
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
Schools. He also served as the Director of the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy
Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy
The Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy is a joint initiative between the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and the Yale Law School.-Mission:...
and the Center for Business & Environment at Yale.
Professor Esty was a Senior Fellow at the Institute for International Economics (1993–94), served in a variety of senior positions on the US Environmental Protection Agency (1989–93), and practiced law in Washington, DC (1986–89).
Professor Esty spent the 2000-01 academic year as a Visiting Professor at INSEAD
INSEAD
INSEAD is an international graduate business school and research institution. It has campuses in Europe , Asia , and the Middle East , as well as a research center in Israel...
, the European business school in Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southeast of the centre of Paris. Fontainebleau is a sub-prefecture of the Seine-et-Marne department, and it is the seat of the arrondissement of Fontainebleau...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. In 2002, Professor Esty received the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
Award for Distinguished Achievement in Environmental Law and Policy for “pioneering a data-driven approach to environmental decision making” and developing the global Environmental Sustainability Index
Environmental Sustainability Index
The Environmental Sustainability Index ' was a composite index published from 1999 to 2005 that tracked 21 elements of environmental sustainability covering natural resource endowments, past and present pollution levels, environmental management efforts, contributions to protection of the global...
. He served four years as an elected Planning and Zoning Commissioner in his hometown of Cheshire, Connecticut
Cheshire, Connecticut
Cheshire is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 28,543 at the 2000 census. The center of population of Connecticut is located in Cheshire. In 2009 Cheshire was ranked 72 in Money Magazine's 100 Best Places to Live.Likewise, in 2011 Cheshire was ranked 73 in...
. He also served as an energy and environmental policy advisor on the 2008 Obama Presidential campaign and as a member of the Presidential Transition Team.
He has advised companies across the world on energy, environment, and sustainability issues and serves as the Chairman of Esty Environmental Partners, a corporate environmental strategy group based in New Haven, CT. He sits on the Board of Directors of the American Farmland Trust, Resources for the Future, and the Connecticut Fund for the Environment.
In April 2011 Esty co-authored an op-ed for the New York Times entitled "Pain at the Pump. We need more". The article advocated higher carbon taxes so as to accelerate technological change. . The article proved problematic as the time Governor Dannel Malloy was proposing an unpopular increase in the Connecticut gas tax. Malloy later withdrew the gas tax increase from his budget package as a result of legislative opposition.
Esty's spouse, former state legislator Elizabeth Esty, is a Democratic candidate for Congress in Connecticut's 5th District