At GRID-Arendal, Steven works to advance the concept of blue carbon through national demonstrations and in international treaties. This includes the development and management of the Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project and the Global Environment Facility’s Blue Forests Project, on behalf of UN Environment, and representation at international climate change negotiations. He is also involved in several other projects including helping to address plastic pollution on our coasts and in our oceans.

Prior to his engagement with GRID-Arendal, Steven focused on marine environmental policy analysis and advocacy in the USA. He has worked on legislation related to climate change and ocean acidification, the management of tropical and deep-sea corals, Hawaiian Monk Seal conservation, marine protected areas, addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and appropriations for NOAA and other federal agencies.

Additionally, he has advanced blue carbon policy with the executive and legislative branches of the US government, the Global Environment Facility and in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Steven also serves as a policy advisor to The Ocean Foundation.