David works with companies to develop and implement credible environmental goals, manage climate and nature risks, integrate justice into environmental action, and incubate collaborations to build a net-zero economy.
He strives to maximize the impact of our applied research, collaborative initiatives, and work with individual companies. This often means innovating how companies credibly align with the Paris Agreement, adapt to inbound climate disclosure regulation, and take advantage of growing interest in science-based nature goals. David also directs BSR’s Transform to Net Zero collaborative initiative.
Before joining BSR, David was a climate diplomat for the Marshall Islands with the advisory group Independent Diplomat and led on emissions reductions and transparency in the UN climate negotiations for the Alliance of Small Island States. As an international lawyer with the Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development, David built up the environmental treaty expertise of governments across the globe. He began his career as a securities litigator with Fried Frank in New York and a commercial litigator with Cassels Brock in Toronto, before focusing on climate change.
David holds a LLM in International Law from New York University, a JD and MA in International Relations from the University of Toronto, and a BA in Ethics, Politics, and Economics from Yale University.
He has two daughters likely to see warming at the end of the century firsthand, and he lives with them and his wife in New York City.
Insights From David Wei
- COP26 Made Climate Action Mainstream Business and Put 1.5°C on Life Support | Nov 23, 2021 | Blog
- Only Transformative Net-Zero Implementation Will Meet Our Climate Crisis | Sep 20, 2021 | Blog
- Landmark Collaboration to Accelerate the Shift to Zero-Carbon Freight | Jul 22, 2021 | News
- Leaders Summit on Climate: Forward Progress to the Net Zero Economies We Need | Apr 27, 2021 | Blog
- The Paris Agreement’s 5th Anniversary: Accelerating the Momentum for Net Zero | Dec 11, 2020 | Blog
- Three Futures of Company Climate Action | Sep 29, 2020 | Blog
- Transform to Net Zero and the Shift from Climate Ambition to Climate Action | Sep 21, 2020 | Blog
- 2019 Climate Action Summit: Businesses Are Pulling Governments toward a Net Zero Economy | Sep 30, 2019 | Blog
- COP24 Set the Rules of the Road; Now We All Have to Drive | Dec 19, 2018 | Blog
- Climate and the Just Transition | Dec 3, 2018 | Reports
- Why We Need a Just Transition to a Low-Carbon World | Dec 3, 2018 | Blog
- How to Implement the TCFD Recommendations | Nov 29, 2018 | Blog
- Climate and Supply Chain | Sep 10, 2018 | Reports
- Why Climate Resilience and Supply Chains Go Hand in Hand | Sep 10, 2018 | Blog
- How to Implement the TCFD Recommendations to Enhance Your Company’s Resilience | Jul 23, 2018 | Blog
- Climate change resilience calls for private sector commitment | Jul 5, 2018 | News
- Why Business Involvement Is Critical at the Paris Agreement Progress Talks | May 8, 2018 | News
- The One Planet Summit Will Kick Off a Year of Focus on Climate Results | Dec 5, 2017 | Blog
- COP23: The ‘Inside-Out’ Approach to Delivering Climate Action | Nov 22, 2017 | Blog
- Businesses Must Evolve along with Global Climate Policy | Nov 21, 2017 | News
- Introducing the We Mean Business Climate Policy Tracker | Nov 1, 2017 | Blog
- Q&A: The Future of Business Action on Climate Change | Oct 16, 2017 | Blog
- New Climate Leadership to Realize the Paris Vision | Sep 20, 2017 | Blog
- BSR Statement on U.S. Withdrawal from the Paris Agreement | Jun 1, 2017 | Blog
- Despite U.S. Uncertainty on Paris, Business Momentum for Climate Action Remains Strong | May 30, 2017 | Blog
- Marrakesh Marks New Era in Climate Implementation | Nov 21, 2016 | News
- Making the Paris Agreement and First Cycle Count | Nov 11, 2016 | News
- United States and China Lock in Paris Agreement | Sep 7, 2016 | Blog
- The Paris Agreement: What It Means for Business | Jun 28, 2016 | Reports
- The Paris Agreement Asks Businesses to Be Bold | Jun 28, 2016 | Blog
- From National Climate Plans to Business Plans | May 3, 2016 | Reports
- How Business Can Act on the Paris Climate Agreement | Apr 20, 2016 | Blog
- To Catalyze Business Action, the Paris Climate Agreement Must Signal a Low-Carbon Economy | Nov 23, 2015 | Blog
- U.S.-China Cooperation on Climate Creates Business Opportunities on Both Sides of the Pacific | Sep 25, 2015 | Blog
- Words Matter in the Paris Climate Agreement | Sep 1, 2015 | Blog
- China’s Climate Announcement Signals Structural Shift to a Low-Carbon Global Economy | Jun 30, 2015 | Blog
- Why We Need to Strengthen Climate Commitments Every Five Years | Jun 9, 2015 | Blog
- A Message from Business to Climate Negotiators: We Want Clear, Ambitious Policy | Jun 1, 2015 | Blog