Michelle Passero is the Senior Climate Policy Advisor to The Nature Conservancy, California office.  She has over fifteen years of experience working in land conservation, environmental law, and policy with particular expertise in forest and climate policy and related conservation transactions. Currently, Ms. Passero is leading TNC’s policy efforts to establish a comprehensive role for forests and natural systems under the California Global Warming Solutions Act.

She has also led or advised processes to develop greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting standards for forest and land use projects, including the California Climate Action Reserve Forest and Urban Forestry Protocols, as well as GHG project standards published by the World Resources Institute and World Business Council for Sustainable Development.  She has also published several articles related to legal issues related to forest carbon markets and carbon rights.  Ms. Passero holds an LL.M. in Sustainable International Development from the University of Washington, a J.D. from the University of San Francisco.