Carbon Direct Welcomes Rory Jacobson as Head of Policy Following Distinguished Service at Department of Energy

Carbon Direct has appointed Rory Jacobson as Head of Policy, bringing onboard a respected leader who most recently directed the Carbon Dioxide Removal program at the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management. Jacobson returns to Carbon Direct with deep expertise in carbon policy implementation and a proven track record of launching pioneering federal initiatives.

"The complexity of today's carbon management landscape demands both scientific rigor and policy expertise," said Jonathan Goldberg, founder and CEO of Carbon Direct. "Having Rory rejoin our team brings invaluable perspective from his government service that will help our clients navigate regulatory frameworks while maintaining the highest standards for climate action."

At the Department of Energy (DOE), Jacobson spearheaded several landmark programs, including the nation's first carbon dioxide removal credit purchasing initiative and the $1.2 billion Regional Direct Air Capture Hubs Program. His work established critical quality standards for carbon credits and advanced measurement frameworks essential for market integrity.

"Coming back to Carbon Direct feels like coming home," said Jacobson. "During my time in government, I gained firsthand insight into the challenges of implementing carbon management policy at scale. I'm eager to apply these lessons to help organizations develop climate strategies that are not just compliant but truly impactful."

Before his government role, Jacobson served as Deputy Director of Policy at Carbon180, where he managed federal policy for engineered carbon removal. He also served as a Science Advisor with Carbon Direct from 2019 to 2022, where he provided policy guidance and performed due diligence on carbon removal projects. His background includes research positions with the Natural Resources Defense Council and World Resources Institute. Jacobson holds a Master of Environmental Management from Yale, where he was a Kerry Fellow, and dual degrees from UC Berkeley.

"Rory brings an exceptional combination of policy expertise and practical implementation experience," said Zara Ahmed, COO at Carbon Direct. "His ability to translate complex legislative and regulatory developments into actionable strategies will be crucial as our clients seek to meet increasingly ambitious climate commitments."

Read Rory’s Blog: From DOE to Carbon Direct: Lessons for the future of energy policy

Upcoming 5/7 Carbon Direct Webinar Registration: What’s next for US climate policy? Insights from inside the government

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