Institute for Transformational and Ecosystem-based Climate Adaption (ITECA), Director Department of Geography, Planning, and Sustainability, University of Albany

Dr. Ríobart É. Breen is the director of the University at Albany’s Institute for Transformational and Ecosystem-based Climate Adaptation (ITECA), which is dedicated to leading transformational climate change adaptation in the bioregion by advancing nature-based solutions and preparing the next generation of climate change leaders through community engagement and service learning. He directs the Hudson-Mohawk Climate Corps, ITECA’s student-run native tree nursery and soil amendments lab, and the Anam Circle ecoregional think tank. He is creator of the EarthQuest climate change scenario and simulation ecogame, and is also a lecturer for the Biodiversity, Conservation, and Policy graduate program in the Department of Geography, Planning and Sustainability at the University at Albany. He previously served at the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Office of Climate Change and the NYS Coastal Management Program’s Ocean and Great Lakes unit. Dr. Breen’s interdisciplinary work is in environmental and natural resources policy, climate change adaptation and resilience policy, and implementation of biodiversity conservation, urban and community forestry, and coastal watershed management. He holds a PhD in environmental and natural resources policy and administration from Northern Arizona University. Dr. Breen lives with his family at Glendara Homestead where they apply regenerative agroecology and sustainable living practices.