TIME notes American Forests’ renewed focus on climate change and its push for equitable solutions since Daley assumed the chief executive role in 2018. The organization’s policy leadership in urban forestry and forest conservation was also key in securing $14 billion in climate-related forest investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, including a historic $1.5 billion for tree equity.  

“Forests and trees are critical solutions in addressing climate change, advancing social equity and building healthier communities,” said Jad Daley, President and CEO of American Forests. “I am honored to be named in this list and consider it a great recognition of American Forests and our partners’ work in bringing the essential benefits of our forests to all communities.”  

In the United States, forests and forest products capture and store almost 15% of the country’s carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels – with the potential to capture nearly twice as much if we plant more trees and enact proper forest management practices. In our cities, we need about 500 million trees in the right places to achieve tree equity, which can potentially save $5 billion a year in climate, air and water services while supporting nearly four million jobs in the tree industry. 

Through its climate-smart forestry solutions, place-based partnerships and movement building to inspire action to tackle climate change and grow social equity across the United States, American Forests is demonstrating how to establish and grow healthy forests, from tree canopy in cities and urban areas to large natural landscapes, in an equitable, sustainable way.  

“As global leaders convene at COP29 to discuss the world’s most pressing climate challenges, it’s a great opportunity to reinforce how trees and other nature-based solutions can be integrated into strategies to limit the impacts of climate change globally.” Daley says.  

This year’s TIME100 Climate list also includes Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank, Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of the US Department of Energy and Melanie Nakagawa, Chief Sustainability Officer of Microsoft.  

“Around the world, decision makers, executives, researchers, and innovators are working to help unlock the necessary funding and resources needed to drive successful and equitable climate action,” according to TIME editors. “We valued measurable, scalable achievements over commitments and announcements. We favored more recent action. The result is our second annual TIME100 Climate list which represents multitudes of individuals making significant progress in influencing the business of climate change. We asked them to talk about it, hoping their words will stir others to do the same.”  

Read Jad Daley’s TIME100 Climate profile: https://time.com/7172495/jad-daley.   

ABOUT AMERICAN FORESTS: American Forests is the first national nonprofit conservation organization created in the U.S. Since its founding in 1875, the organization has been the pathfinders for the forest conservation movement. Its mission is to create healthy and resilient forests, from cities to large natural landscapes, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water and wildlife. The organization advances its mission through forestry, innovation, place-based partnerships to plant and restore forests, and movement building. For more information visit: www.americanforests.org.