Rich Kassel

Background

About Rich Kassel

Rich is a consensus-building, solution-oriented advocate for policies that cost-effectively reduce greenhouse gases, particulate matter, and other forms of air pollution at scale, whose work expands policy-driven opportunities in clean energy, zero emission and low-carbon transportation, and the broader energy transition. Prior to joining AJW, Rich spent more than two decades advocating on New York, national, and international clean air, energy, and transportation policy issues as a Senior Attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), where he was described by the New York Times editorial page as "leading the charge" against diesel pollution. His "Dump Dirty Diesels" campaigns and other policy advocacy played major roles in launching the widespread adoption of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, electric drivetrains, low-carbon non-petroleum fuels, and other innovations in bus and truck technology that have become the gold standard for cleaner vehicles worldwide. Rich also led NRDC’s work to create the Hudson River Park, to reduce airport emissions, and its early advocacy on congestion pricing.Rich has also served on numerous governmental advisory bodies. He chaired the U.S. EPA's Mobile Source Technical Review Subcommittee, which provided independent advice and counsel on the agency's transportation and air quality programs, from 2016-2023. He was a member of the U.S. delegation to the International Maritime Organization that secured the world's first Emission Control Area for ships, which dramatically reduced ship emissions within 200 miles of the U.S. coastline. And, he co-chaired the task force that developed the MTA's first clean-fuel bus plan and later co-chaired the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's task force that developed its first plan to clean up trucks at the port. Entrepreneurial in spirit and a strong strategic thinker, Rich was part of the founding team of three successful nonprofit organizations earlier in his career and continues to serve on multiple boards - experiences that help him advise NGOs, startups, and established businesses in New York, Washington, and around the world.Rich was recently honored as a "Trailblazer in Clean Energy" by City & State in 2025. City & State has also honored Rich as one of New York's "50 Over 50" leaders in 2019 and 2025, and as one of its "Energy and Environment Power 100" in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. His work has also been honored by the U.S. EPA, the U.S. Dept. of Energy, the NYC Environmental Law Leadership Institute, the German Marshall Fund, and others.