Asia Society Policy Institute Welcomes Three New Experts on Climate and South Asia
NEW YORK, May 23, 2023 — Adding to its expertise on climate diplomacy and South Asia, the Asia Society Policy Institute is pleased to welcome three new affiliated experts: the Honorable Todd Stern, former special envoy for climate negotiation at the U.S. Department of State, joining as a non-resident distinguished fellow; Ms. Farwa Aamer, formerly at Stimson Center and EastWest Institute, joining as Director of South Asia Initiatives and based at Asia Society New York; and Dr. Muyi Yang, an expert on China’s clean energy transition, joining as Associate Director of Climate based in Asia Society Australia's Sydney office.
These experts will provide significant knowledge and support to the Policy Institute’s work.
From January 2009 until April 2016, Mr. Stern served as the special envoy for climate change at the U.S. Department of State. He was President Obama’s chief climate negotiator, leading the U.S. effort in negotiating the Paris Agreement and in all bilateral and multilateral climate negotiations in the seven years leading up to Paris. He also served under President Clinton in the White House from 1993 to 1999, coordinating the administration’s initiative on global climate change as the senior White House advisor at the Kyoto and Buenos Aires negotiations from 1997 to 1999.
Ms. Aamer previously led research on the security, political, and socio-economic dimensions of transboundary river governance in the Himalayan region at the Stimson Center. There, she convened high-level Track II dialogues designed to facilitate greater inter-and intra-regional cooperation on water, energy, climate change, and sustainable development issues in South Asia, MENA, and Central Asia. From 2017 to 2021, Farwa served as the Director of the South Asia Program at the EastWest Institute (EWI).
Dr. Yang previously worked at the University of Technology Sydney, where he was actively engaged in teaching, research, and consulting on a wide range of policy themes including, electricity market reform, renewable uptake, coal power phase-down, transport electrification, energy governance, and political economy. From 2020 to 2023, he also worked at Ember, a global energy and climate think tank dedicated to promoting the transition from coal to clean power.
“We are delighted to welcome new fellows and experts of such high caliber to further our policy research and advocacy work,” said Rorry Daniels, Managing Director of the Asia Society Policy Institute. “Todd Stern’s deep expertise in policy negotiation and his commitment to accelerating climate action complement our slate of projects on high-level climate diplomacy and clean energy issues. Muyi Yang’s technical knowledge, his passion for resolving barriers to clean energy transition, and his network in the Asian climate community add to the Policy Institute’s ability to explore and promote perspectives from the region.”
“Farwa brings a wealth of substantive experience on the range of South Asia policy issues along with great energy, creativity, and analytic acumen — she is a wonderful addition to our growing team,” said Daniel Russel, Vice President for International Security and Diplomacy of the Asia Society Policy Institute.
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With a problem-solving mandate, the Asia Society Policy Institute tackles major policy challenges now confronting the Asia-Pacific in security, prosperity, sustainability, and the development of common norms and values for the region.
With top-level advisors, fellows, and the premier Asia-wide network of experts, the Policy Institute provides a unique platform for policy development. It boasts a truly Asia-wide scope; participation from business and policy leaders on equal footing; and the application of Asia Society’s world-leading convening and research capabilities to the pursuit of prosperity, security, and sustainability across Asia.