Employee Spotlight: Will Gochberg, PhD - Technical Climate Policy Analyst

Our global conservation work would not be possible without the dedication, expertise, and passion of our team members. Each month, get to know our team members and what they do through our Employee Spotlight Series.

In this month’s spotlight meet Will Gochberg PhD, Wildlife Works Technical Climate Policy Analyst. From conducting research on land tenure systems in Africa to working in academia, Will's rich experience and keen analysis on policy makes him an indispensable part of our team.

Learn more about Will and his policy perspectives for the carbon market in this Q&A.

Q: How would you describe what you do at Wildlife Works?

A: I analyze global climate policy, carbon market trends, and provide technical support to the rest of the policy team.

Q: What did you do before joining Wildlife Works?

A: Most recently I was in academia, teaching courses on environmental policy and the politics of economic development at Washington University in St. Louis. My research background is land tenure systems in Africa.

Q: What made you want to join Wildlife Works?

A: It was a great opportunity to further my understanding of climate policy and economic development, and to do so in a very applied setting.

Q: Describe your personal connection with forests and trees.

A: Every morning, I get to see the forests covering the Green Mountains and feel so fortunate to live in a place where I can go playing around in the woods so easily. Walking around the white pine trees on my mother's land in Maine is when I feel most at ease.

Q: What's your favorite book, or a book you're currently reading?

A: War and Peace. Every couple of years I get in the mood to read a "classic” and I love Tolstoy. I also recently read The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell, and really enjoyed it.

Q: What gives you hope that humanity can overcome the challenges of climate change and the biodiversity crisis?

A: I view these as, at their core, political crises. While political solutions are imperfect and rarely come quickly, they are possible even for big problems!

Q: What challenge in nature conservation do you believe is commonly misunderstood?

A: I think conservation problems are rarely caused by a simple lack of information; they are more often a result of the incentives faced by individuals, communities, and states. More people should read Governing the Commons by Elinor Ostrom!

Q: What message would you convey to someone skeptical about carbon markets?

A: The carbon markets are filled with passionate, smart people who are genuinely dedicated to tackling climate change head on, reducing threats to biodiversity, and channeling finance to local communities on the front line of these crises. The work we do is continually improving, and we all want to get this right.

Q: What have you seen that makes you believe REDD+ is a viable solution to the climate and biodiversity crises?

A: When indigenous and local communities come to the defense and support of REDD+ projects in their areas, it gives me hope. Their informed, enthusiastic support (and indeed, their hard work), is essential to the long-term success of REDD+.

Q: What message would you like carbon market stakeholders to understand about forest nation governments’ engagement with the carbon market?

A: Without national regulatory frameworks and policy enforcement, carbon markets will never scale up, if they function at all. Local stakeholders, including governments, must be rewarded for doing the hard work to reduce and remove emissions.