Alan Hecht
Director for sustainable development
Environmental Protection Agency
Dr. Alan Hecht is Director for sustainable development in the Office of Research and Development at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Since 2003 he has led ORD’s planning on sustainability research.
On detail to the White House from 2001 to 2003, he served as White House coordinator for preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
At EPA From 1989 to 2001, he served as the Deputy Assistant Administrator for International Activities and Acting Assistant Administrator for International Activities from 1992 to 1994. During this period he led EPA’s negotiations for the side agreement to the NAFTA, launched the US-Mexico Border Program, and served as senior advisor to the Administrator for the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992.
Before joining EPA, Dr. Hecht was Director of the National Climate Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (1981–1989) and Director of the Climate Dynamics Program at the National Science Foundation (1976–1981). Dr. Hecht was instrumental in helping to create the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Dr. Hecht has a Ph.D in geology and geochemistry from Case Western Reserve University. He has written extensively on climate change and sustainability.