Catherine Leining

Catherine Leining has over 30 years of international policy experience with specialisation in climate change mitigation policy. As a Policy Fellow at Motu Economic and Public Policy Research, she leads Motu’s research and engagement programme on “Shaping New Zealand’s Low-Emission Future.” She also provides independent consulting through Silver Lining Global Solutions (SilverLiningGS.com) and is a member of the Taskforce Expert Group supporting the Taskforce on Net Zero Policy, a United Nations initiative.

Over 2019 to 2024, she served as one of the inaugural Commissioners on He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission. Over 2019 to 2022, she served on the Board of Trustees for the New Zealand Centre for Global Studies. She has held policy positions at the Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Wellington City Council and New Zealand Transport Agency. In government roles, she helped to design the NZ ETS and served on the New Zealand delegation to the UNFCCC negotiations (2008-2009). In the US, she held policy positions at the Center for Clean Air Policy, ICF Consulting and the International City/County Management Association. She was trained as a Climate Leader under The Climate Reality Project launched by Al Gore. She holds a BS in biology (with distinction) and French from Duke University.