Olivia Lopez

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AFFILIATION: Ocean Conservancy, Hispanic Access Foundation

TITLE: Senior Climate Policy Specialist, Ocean Advisory Council General Body

LOCATION: Maryland

LANGUAGE: English

EXPERTISE AREA: Black/African-American Communities, Climate Change, Conservation, DEIJ, Environmental Justice, Environmental Racism, Hispanic/Latine/a/o Communities, Ocean Justice, Water, Youth

ABOUT THE EXPERT:

I’m an early career environmentalist working to advance equitable policy solutions at the intersection of ocean conservation and climate change. Having recognized the outsized impacts of climate change on our ocean and coasts, I’m driven to work with others to implement multi-benefit adaptation strategies, looking to the ocean itself for nature-based tools. Born and raised in Milwaukee and now working for our ocean, I consider myself an all-around water justice advocate. I have working experience in scientific research, policy analysis, and strategy rooted in social science. I’ve completed two bachelor’s degrees in Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies as well as a minor in Afro-American Studies, all from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I have experience studying and conducting field work, specifically in Bocas del Toro, Panama and Ciales, Puerto Rico.

As a proud Afro-Latina, I find it important to apply my knowledge of U.S. and global history to all work I do, using it to inform strategies that address contemporary environmental and social injustices that we continue to experience. I’m based in the Washington, D.C. area working as a Senior Climate Policy Specialist with Ocean Conservancy and serving as a member of Hispanic Access Foundation’s Ocean Advisory Council general body.

CONTACT:

Contact Olivia Lopez at Experts@diversegreen.org.