Michael Schmitz

Michael is an attorney with more than two decades of experience in policy and politics at the federal, state, and local levels, and serves as the California Director of ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, an international membership association of local governments dedicated to climate protection and sustainable development. At ICLEI, he is engaged in supporting cities and counties to take action to reduce CO2 emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Before joining ICLEI, Michael was Principal of Go Forward Consulting, specializing in strategic research, analysis, and policy development. The firm managed and advised non-profit, business, and political clients on a range of issues, including environmental regulation, land use, and economic development. In this capacity he served as Executive Director of CLEEN, a statewide coalition of environmental and public health organizations advocating for the protection of California’s clean water and environmental health.