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Dr. Jonathan Foley

Dr. Jonathan Foley

Keynote Speaker: World Leading Climate Scientist & Executive Director of Project Drawdown

Dr. Jonathan Foley Biography

Dr. Jonathan Foley is a leading climate scientist, sustainability expert, educator, and public speaker. He is also executive director of Project Drawdown — the world’s leading resource for climate solutions. His work focuses on finding solutions to sustain the climate, ecosystems, and natural resources we all depend on.

Foley’s work has led him to become a trusted advisor to governments, foundations, non-profits, and business leaders around the world. He and his colleagues have made contributions to our understanding of climate change, the global food system, and the sustainability of the world’s resources. He has published over 140 scientific articles, including many highly cited works in Nature and Science. He earned his Ph.D. from the Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences at the University of Wisconsin, and is among the top 1 percent most-cited scientists in the world.

A noted science communicator, his presentations have been featured at hundreds of venues, including the Aspen Institute, the World Bank, the National Geographic Society, the Chautauqua Institution, the Commonwealth Club, the National Science March, and TED. He has also written many popular pieces in National Geographic, the New York Times, the Guardian, and Scientific American. He has appeared on National Public Radio, the PBS NewsHour, the BBC, CNN, and in the New York Times, the Guardian, the Washington Post, WIRED, the HBO documentary “Too Hot Not to Handle”, and the film series, “Let Science Speak”.

Foley has won numerous awards and honors, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, awarded by President Clinton; the J.S. McDonnell Foundation’s 21st Century Science Award; an Aldo Leopold Leadership Fellowship; the Sustainability Science Award from the Ecological Society of America; and the National Science Foundation’s Faculty Early Career Development Award. He was also named as the winner of the prestigious Heinz Award for the Environment.

Before joining Project Drawdown, Foley led a number of environmental science and sustainability organizations. At the University of Wisconsin, he launched the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE) and served as the first Gaylord Nelson Professor of Environmental Studies. He was also the founding director of the Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota, where he was the McKnight Presidential Chair of Sustainability. More recently, he served as the Executive Director of the California Academy of Sciences, the greenest science museum on the planet.

Originally from Maine, Foley enjoys nature photography, hiking, kayaking, and exploring new places. He lives with his wife, a mixed-media artist, in Owatonna, Minnesota.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Dr. Jonathan Foley and other top speakers and celebrities.

Dr. Jonathan Foley Speaking Topics

Standing Up for Science is Standing Up for America

In recent years, we have seen an unprecedented increase in the attacks on science and scientists by powerful politicians and media figures. While attacks on facts and science might sound trivial compared to the larger political and social upheaval happening in America today, make no mistake about it: Attacks on facts, science, and scientists will hurt you, whether you are a scientist or not.

In fact, the so-called “War on Science” is going to affect everything?—?ranging from the safety of the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. It will affect the kinds of diseases we get and the medicines we use. It will dictate what our kids are taught in school, what is discussed in the news, and what is debated in Congress. It will affect the jobs we have, and what powers our economy.

Science touches everything we do, which is why the “War on Science” is so serious. This is a war that needs to be won, for the future of our nation and our children.

Foley showcases the current state of the “War on Science” and different paths we can all take to stand up science, so that science can stand up for Americans – and improve our long-term health, economy, and security.

This presentation can be tailored to many different audiences, and it leverages Foley’s extensive writing and speaking on this topic – including op-eds and essays in Scientific American and the San Francisco Chronicle, numerous media interviews, and speaking at the first National Science March in Washington, D.C. As world-class scientist and the former leader of the one of the world’s premiere science museums, Foley is one of the most respected voices on this topic.

Fixing the Global Food System

The world’s food system faces enormous challenges. First, even as we grow enough food to feed everyone today, nearly 800 million people still go hungry because of crushing poverty and failed institutions. Second, as the world’s population, affluence, and appetite for rich foods increases, the current food system may face major challenges in meeting these demands. Finally, the current food system is completely unsustainable, and is a major driver of global environmental problems – including climate change, tropical deforestation, biodiversity loss, water depletion, and pollution. We have to do better.

In this presentation, Foley outlines a 5-part solution to fixing the global food system, showcasing new ways to feed our growing world while protecting Earth’s natural environment for future generations. Based on cutting-edge science – led by Foley and featured in the world’s leading scientific journals and media outlets, including TED, Scientific American, and the covers of Nature and National Geographic – this plan shows how governments, businesses, non-profits, communities, and everyday citizens can all be part of a better food system.

This presentation can be tailored to a variety of influencer audiences or general public groups. It leverages Foley’s long and extensive expertise in this area, where he is an established global thought leader, author, and speaker.

Why Businesses Should Care About Climate Change and the Environment

Former Senator Gaylord Nelson once said, “The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment, not the other way around.” And he was right. For far too long, we have heard that we have to choose between jobs and the environment, or between having a healthy economy and a healthy planet. But that’s simply not true.

In fact, businesses and the larger economy need a healthy climate and environment to thrive. Why? First of all, our economy depends on a stable climate and critical natural resources – clean water, healthy soil and farmland, growing forests, healthy fisheries, clean air, and abundant energy. But the economy also depends on less visible things that nature provides, called “ecosystem services” by scientists, including the pollination of our crops by insects, the cleaning of our water supplies by wetlands and healthy rivers, and the protection of our coastlines by coral reefs and mangroves. We would be nowhere without these free “services” from nature. Moreover, executives need to minimize the potential risks to their business – whether to their supply chains, their operations, their infrastructure and capital, or their distribution channels and customers – that may come from global environmental disruptions, including the impacts of climate change (more severe storms, more droughts and floods), sea level rise, depleted water supplies, widespread crop failures, and ecosystem decline. The “new normal” for business will be a time of managing these new risks.

In this presentation, Foley illustrates the importance of a healthy, stable environment to businesses and the larger economy. By uncovering the hidden economic value of nature – in terms of the safe climate, natural resources, ecosystem services, and risk protection it provides – we can see ways to improve the long-term health of our businesses and our planet.

This presentation is ideal or influencer audiences, especially from the business community, and can be adapted to broader audiences as well.

DRAWDOWN: A Global Plan to Address Climate Change

The news on climate change is grim. But what if there was a practical plan, based on the latest science, that could turn it around, and help us build a climate-safe future?

That’s what Project Drawdown is all about. Drawdown is a multi-faceted set of solutions – focused on fixing the world’s energy, food, and material systems – that can help us stop climate change and pivot to a better, more sustainable world.

Drawdown highlights over 100 solutions to climate change — from electricity, food & agriculture, industry, transportation, buildings, restoring forests, and protecting our oceans. It is the most comprehensive plan to address climate change ever created, and is told in a beautiful, accessible, and compelling way. Far from the “doom and gloom” tone of most climate change discussions, Project Drawdown focuses on opportunity, action, and empowerment.

Rich with the latest insights from science, emerging solutions from every part of the globe, powerfully motivating stories of hope, and beautiful images and multi-media, this presentation speaks to many different audiences. Different versions of this presentation can engage influencer groups (focused on climate solutions that businesses, governments, and international nonprofits can achieve) and general public audiences (showcasing what everyday people and communities can do to help address climate change).

The presentation draws from Foley’s extensive experience in climate change and sustainability solutions, and the work of Project Drawdown, including their New York Times best-selling book, Drawdown.

Dr. Jonathan Foley Videos

The Problem With Food & Climate - & How To Fix It | Jonathan Foley | TED
The Climate Solutions Worth Funding — Now | Jonathan Foley | TED
Climate Solutions 101 | Live Digital Launch

How do I book Dr. Jonathan Foley to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Dr. Jonathan Foley for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Dr. Jonathan Foley, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Dr. Jonathan Foley or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Dr. Jonathan Foley for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Dr. Jonathan Foley, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Dr. Jonathan Foley, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Dr. Jonathan Foley speak about?

Dr. Jonathan Foley is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Ethics & Integrity, Energy, Environment, Sustainability, Futurism, Government, Environmental Policy, World Affairs, Science, Culture, Climate Change, Earth Day, Animals & Wildlife, Conservation, Environmental Activism, Business, Finance and Business Growth.

Where does Dr. Jonathan Foley travel from?

Dr. Jonathan Foley generally travels from Minneapolis, MN, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Dr. Jonathan Foley?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Dr. Jonathan Foley for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Dr. Jonathan Foley for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Dr. Jonathan Foley or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Dr. Jonathan Foley is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Ethics & Integrity, Energy and Environment. Please contact us for live or virtual event fee details. Dr. Jonathan Foley generally travels from Minneapolis, MN, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Michael Shellenberger, Katharine Hayhoe and Tensie Whelan. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Dr. Jonathan Foley for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 01/10/2024.

Dr. Jonathan Foley Speaking Topics

  • Standing Up for Science is Standing Up for America

    In recent years, we have seen an unprecedented increase in the attacks on science and scientists by powerful politicians and media figures. While attacks on facts and science might sound trivial compared to the larger political and social upheaval happening in America today, make no mistake about it: Attacks on facts, science, and scientists will hurt you, whether you are a scientist or not.

    In fact, the so-called “War on Science” is going to affect everything?—?ranging from the safety of the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. It will affect the kinds of diseases we get and the medicines we use. It will dictate what our kids are taught in school, what is discussed in the news, and what is debated in Congress. It will affect the jobs we have, and what powers our economy.

    Science touches everything we do, which is why the “War on Science” is so serious. This is a war that needs to be won, for the future of our nation and our children.

    Foley showcases the current state of the “War on Science” and different paths we can all take to stand up science, so that science can stand up for Americans – and improve our long-term health, economy, and security.

    This presentation can be tailored to many different audiences, and it leverages Foley’s extensive writing and speaking on this topic – including op-eds and essays in Scientific American and the San Francisco Chronicle, numerous media interviews, and speaking at the first National Science March in Washington, D.C. As world-class scientist and the former leader of the one of the world’s premiere science museums, Foley is one of the most respected voices on this topic.

  • Fixing the Global Food System

    The world’s food system faces enormous challenges. First, even as we grow enough food to feed everyone today, nearly 800 million people still go hungry because of crushing poverty and failed institutions. Second, as the world’s population, affluence, and appetite for rich foods increases, the current food system may face major challenges in meeting these demands. Finally, the current food system is completely unsustainable, and is a major driver of global environmental problems – including climate change, tropical deforestation, biodiversity loss, water depletion, and pollution. We have to do better.

    In this presentation, Foley outlines a 5-part solution to fixing the global food system, showcasing new ways to feed our growing world while protecting Earth’s natural environment for future generations. Based on cutting-edge science – led by Foley and featured in the world’s leading scientific journals and media outlets, including TED, Scientific American, and the covers of Nature and National Geographic – this plan shows how governments, businesses, non-profits, communities, and everyday citizens can all be part of a better food system.

    This presentation can be tailored to a variety of influencer audiences or general public groups. It leverages Foley’s long and extensive expertise in this area, where he is an established global thought leader, author, and speaker.

  • Why Businesses Should Care About Climate Change and the Environment

    Former Senator Gaylord Nelson once said, “The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment, not the other way around.” And he was right. For far too long, we have heard that we have to choose between jobs and the environment, or between having a healthy economy and a healthy planet. But that’s simply not true.

    In fact, businesses and the larger economy need a healthy climate and environment to thrive. Why? First of all, our economy depends on a stable climate and critical natural resources – clean water, healthy soil and farmland, growing forests, healthy fisheries, clean air, and abundant energy. But the economy also depends on less visible things that nature provides, called “ecosystem services” by scientists, including the pollination of our crops by insects, the cleaning of our water supplies by wetlands and healthy rivers, and the protection of our coastlines by coral reefs and mangroves. We would be nowhere without these free “services” from nature. Moreover, executives need to minimize the potential risks to their business – whether to their supply chains, their operations, their infrastructure and capital, or their distribution channels and customers – that may come from global environmental disruptions, including the impacts of climate change (more severe storms, more droughts and floods), sea level rise, depleted water supplies, widespread crop failures, and ecosystem decline. The “new normal” for business will be a time of managing these new risks.

    In this presentation, Foley illustrates the importance of a healthy, stable environment to businesses and the larger economy. By uncovering the hidden economic value of nature – in terms of the safe climate, natural resources, ecosystem services, and risk protection it provides – we can see ways to improve the long-term health of our businesses and our planet.

    This presentation is ideal or influencer audiences, especially from the business community, and can be adapted to broader audiences as well.

  • DRAWDOWN: A Global Plan to Address Climate Change

    The news on climate change is grim. But what if there was a practical plan, based on the latest science, that could turn it around, and help us build a climate-safe future?

    That’s what Project Drawdown is all about. Drawdown is a multi-faceted set of solutions – focused on fixing the world’s energy, food, and material systems – that can help us stop climate change and pivot to a better, more sustainable world.

    Drawdown highlights over 100 solutions to climate change — from electricity, food & agriculture, industry, transportation, buildings, restoring forests, and protecting our oceans. It is the most comprehensive plan to address climate change ever created, and is told in a beautiful, accessible, and compelling way. Far from the “doom and gloom” tone of most climate change discussions, Project Drawdown focuses on opportunity, action, and empowerment.

    Rich with the latest insights from science, emerging solutions from every part of the globe, powerfully motivating stories of hope, and beautiful images and multi-media, this presentation speaks to many different audiences. Different versions of this presentation can engage influencer groups (focused on climate solutions that businesses, governments, and international nonprofits can achieve) and general public audiences (showcasing what everyday people and communities can do to help address climate change).

    The presentation draws from Foley’s extensive experience in climate change and sustainability solutions, and the work of Project Drawdown, including their New York Times best-selling book, Drawdown.

Dr. Jonathan Foley Videos

The Problem With Food & Climate - & How To Fix It | Jonathan Foley | TED
The Climate Solutions Worth Funding — Now | Jonathan Foley | TED
Climate Solutions 101 | Live Digital Launch
The Carbon Problem - Carbon Impact.tech talk
Surprising Solutions To The Climate Crisis | Dr. Jonathan Foley

Dr. Jonathan Foley Reviews

  • Auburn University - Mar 27 2024

  • Dr. Foley was outstanding! His presentation was pitch perfect. He understood the brief and our desired outcomes perfectly and delivered it compellingly with compassion, humor and authority. I believe you will be receiving many requests for his services amongst our clients and partners who were present and also viewing the live stream.
    Mediabrands - Apr 30 2023

  • Hewlett Packard Enterprise - HPEFS - Nov 29 2022

  • AppFolio - Apr 26 2022

Dr. Jonathan Foley News

  • How do I book Dr. Jonathan Foley to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Dr. Jonathan Foley for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Dr. Jonathan Foley, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Dr. Jonathan Foley or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Dr. Jonathan Foley for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Dr. Jonathan Foley, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Dr. Jonathan Foley, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Dr. Jonathan Foley speak about?

  • Where does Dr. Jonathan Foley travel from?

    Dr. Jonathan Foley generally travels from Minneapolis, MN, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Dr. Jonathan Foley?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Dr. Jonathan Foley for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Dr. Jonathan Foley for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Dr. Jonathan Foley or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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