Debbie Raphael
San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.
Debbie Raphael is the Director of the San Francisco Department of the Environment and believes that cities can take bold action to address environmental harm. A scientist by training and public servant by profession, Debbie has spent most of her career working in government to ensure that everyone has an equal right to a safe and healthy environment.
As Director, Debbie leads the City’s efforts to address climate change and build resilience. Under the leadership of Mayor London Breed and the Board of Supervisors, she helped pass one of the City’s most ground-breaking bans on natural gas in new construction, implemented a new, accelerated goal of carbon neutrality by 2040, and updated the City’s Climate Action Plan with collaboration from residents, CBOs, and businesses to include specific goals and strategies in critical sectors of energy, transportation, materials, and biodiversity.
Named one of the world’s 100 most influential people in climate policy, Debbie is a frequent keynote speaker at international climate conferences and a national spokeswoman on environmental issues.