Monica Grasso, NOAA chief economist. (Image credit: TIME)
Monica Grasso, Ph.D., NOAA chief economist, joins a list of international leaders, titans of business, creative innovators, a mayor, royal prince and others who were named to the 2024 TIME100 Climate list. The list recognizes Grasso as one of the world’s 100 most influential leaders offsite link working to help businesses take effective and transformative climate action. The list was announced during the first week of the 29th Conference of the Parties offsite link to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Baku, Azerbaijan.
TIME notes that Grasso was an author of the first-ever chapter on economics in the Fifth National Climate Assessment. The chapter estimates U.S. weather-related disasters generate annual losses of at least $150 billion per year in direct damages and are slowing growth of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product.
“I am thrilled and honored to be included in the TIME100 Climate leaders list and I hope it serves as motivation and inspiration for our NOAA and National Climate Assessment colleagues,” said Grasso, from Baku, Azerbaijan, where she is attending the UN Climate Change Conference. “This accomplishment is a result of hard work and dedication of experts from the 5th National Climate Assessment, specifically the economics chapter team, and the incredible team at the NOAA Office of Performance, Risk and Social Science/Chief Financial Office, who are working to bridge the gap between scientific research and societal impacts.”
Grasso serves as the agency lead for the Economics chapter. She also has been a champion of the need for good economic and environmental data that can help inform the most effective investments in climate mitigation and resilience. She notes the growing appetite in business and other sectors to invest in climate mitigation solutions. To do this effectively, there is a need for data to understand where and how their investments could be most effective.
As NOAA chief economist since 2016, Grasso provides leadership and direction to promote, coordinate, integrate and implement the use of rigorous economic analysis in support of NOAA’s mission including climate and the blue economy. Her work focuses on demonstrating the economic value of climate information and services to society and quantifying the impacts and benefits of climate adaptation investments.
Prior to joining NOAA, Grasso served as chief economist at the Transportation Security Administration in the Department of Homeland Security, where she provided expert advice, guidance and assistance to the agency’s leadership and key management officials on economic trends in the transportation industry, and the impact of policies on the public and industry.
Grasso holds a Ph.D. in Ecological Economics from University of Maryland, certificate in Advanced Business Management from Georgetown University and Executive Education from Harvard Kennedy School. Read more about Grasso and other honorees on the 2024 TIME100 Climate list offsite link.