James Roth

A passion for finding solutions and communicating with people has defined James Roth’s 25 years in policymaking.

An attorney, public affairs executive and strategist, James currently devotes his energy and experience to solving one of the greatest threats of our time—climate change. Leading policy and government affairs for Conservation International, James oversees a globally respected team that negotiates international treaties, including the Paris Agreement and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

As a senior staffer in the United States Senate, he launched and chaired the Moderate Democrat Senators Working Group, a core wing of the Democratic Caucus that was critical to achieving consensus among both Democrats and Republicans He served in two White House Administrations as part of the President’s negotiating teams for international trade agreements between the United States and countries in Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. He began his career in private law practice and later in senior public policy positions with private corporations and a global conservation organization.

He has traveled overseas extensively, speaking with foreign governments on various public policy matters and has appeared on television discussing the importance of nature conservation.

It was James’ penchant for advocacy and problem solving that moved him to accept the most unconventional challenge of his career—helping find a golf scholarship for Madalitso Muthiya, a teenager he didn’t know who lived in a country halfway around the world.