Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a marine biologist, climate policy strategist, writer, and Brooklyn native whose work focuses on advancing equitable climate solutions and ocean conservation. She is the co-founder and chief executive of Urban Ocean Lab, a think tank dedicated to developing climate policy and resilience strategies for coastal cities in a changing environmental future.

Johnson is widely recognized for her contributions to climate communication and environmental policy. She co-edited the bestselling climate anthology “All We Can Save,” which brings together diverse women’s voices in climate leadership. She also co-created the Spotify/Gimlet podcast “How to Save a Planet,” a popular series exploring practical climate solutions, and co-authored the “Blue New Deal,” a policy framework advocating for the integration of ocean conservation into national climate planning.

Earlier in her career, Johnson worked in marine and environmental policy roles with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and served as executive director of the Waitt Institute, where she helped advance ocean governance initiatives. She has also taught environmental policy and sustainability-related courses in academic settings.

Johnson holds a Bachelor of Arts in environmental science and public policy from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in marine biology from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Her writing has appeared in publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Scientific American.

She serves on the board of Patagonia and the advisory and steering committees of several environmental advocacy organizations. Johnson’s 2024 book, “What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futurism,” explores hopeful and solution-oriented approaches to addressing climate change. She continues to focus on climate innovation, ocean justice, and sustainable futures.