Mary Nichols, Former Chair of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), Named Co-Chair of the Commission on the Future of Mobility

Recognizing the need for leadership that can bring together key mobility players from around the globe to create lasting change, the Commission on the Future of Mobility (CFM) is strengthening its ability to lead with the appointment of Mary Nichols as co-chair.

With the rapid pace of societal, economic and technical advancements impacting all facets of the mobility landscape, global transportation policy and infrastructure has not kept pace. By 2050, greenhouse gas emissions could reach 12 billion tons of CO2 annually. Simultaneously, two out of three people globally are expected to live in urban areas, significantly impacting public infrastructure and transit systems. These shifts, coupled with the acceleration of connected mobility solutions and alternative-fuel powertrains, have created an urgent need for systemic change in how people and goods move globally.

A powerhouse in the environmental industry with a proven track record of enacting policies that reduce carbon emissions and prioritize health and safety, Mary is well-positioned to lead CFM’s mission. Under Mary’s tenure as former chair of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), California reduced greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels in 2016 – four years ahead of schedule. Mary worked closely with public and private entities to ensure California’s sustainability goals were met, connecting with key stakeholders to ensure the state’s economy flourished while not losing sight of emissions goals.

Her work to defeat Prop. 23, which would have suspended the state’s climate targets until unemployment hit 5.5% for four consecutive years, underscores her ability to encourage bi-partisan collaboration and public-private coordination.

Mary will join CFM Co-Chairs Jim Hackett, advisor and former president and CEO, Ford Motor Co.; Jared Cohon, chair, Board on Energy and Environmental Systems of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine & president emeritus, Carnegie Mellon University; and Thierry Mallet, chairman and CEO, Transdev Group. Under this leadership, CFM will streamline, strengthen and modernize policies to address the mobility opportunity gap with urgency.

Through this global coalition of business, technology and policy leaders, CFM will work to develop a new regulatory framework that optimizes for reduced carbon emissions, strengthened energy security, increased roadway safety, greater economic opportunity and expanded mobility access. These lenses will drive quarterly research and advocacy initiatives across key policy focus areas. 

On Tuesday, February 16, Mary will join CFM’s leadership to announce new commissioners and reveal the five initial focus areas for the Commission’s research. For more information, visit https://futuremobilitycommission.org/ and follow CFM on Twitter and LinkedIn.