Mary D. Nichols

Mary D. Nichols is widely recognized for a career as one of the world’s most important environmental regulators. As chair of the California Air and Resources Board, California’s powerful air-pollution and climate regulatory agency from 1975-1982 and then from 2007-2020, she led California’s battle to cut smog and carbon emissions. Under Nichols’ leadership, CARB enacted the first comprehensive cap on industrial greenhouse gas emissions by any major regulatory agency in the world. Nichols and CARB also crafted and enforced regulations that slashed air pollution from cars and light trucks by over 99%, paved the way for a new generation of advanced biofuels, and created the roadmap for a transition to a fully electrified transportation system. Nichols continues this work as Distinguished Counsel at UCLA Law School, she also serves as the Vice-Chair of the China-California Climate Institute, as Co-Chair of the Coalition for Reimagined Mobility, and was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Science in 2020.