Nick Godfrey is the Co-Founder and Programme Director of the Coalition for Urban Transitions – a special initiative of the New Climate Economy – focused on unlocking the power of cities to enhance national economic, social, and environmental performance. Before co-founding the Coalition he was the Head of Policy and Urban Development for the New Climate Economy and the coordinating author of the first three cities chapters of the flagship reports of the Global Commission for the Economy and Climate: a partnership of 26 former heads of state, finance Ministers, CEO’s, and thought leaders examining how countries can achieve economic growth while dealing with the risks posed by climate change, including its inaugural report “Better Growth, Better Climate.’

An economist by background, Nick has over ten years’ experience in the public and private sectors providing strategic and economic advice in relation to future cities, climate change, and catalysing economic development. Nick previously worked for the Atkins futures team, providing leading thinking on the future of cities. Prior to this Nick worked at DFID supporting the climate change negotiations and the design of the UK’s International Climate Fund, as well as for the Government of Guyana leading a team to develop its national economic development strategy. Nick holds a first class honours in economics from the University of Nottingham, U.K and a Masters in development economics for which he was awarded the Dehn Prize for outstanding academic achievement by the University of Manchester. In his spare time, Nick loves to scuba dive, play squash, go to gigs, see friends, and hang out with his wife, Rachel, and two young daughters, Eva and Zoe.