James Harries

James Harries currently serves as the Head of Climate Change and Sustainability at Trafford Council, focusing on initiatives aimed at achieving net zero and enhancing climate resilience since November 2023. Prior to this role, James was with Ricardo plc for over a decade, holding positions as Associate Director and Principal Technical Consultant, where expertise included low carbon policies, mitigation analysis, and climate change measurement and reporting. James also contributed to the Department of Energy and Climate Change as a Policy Advisor, leading the development of the fourth carbon budget and the Carbon Plan, and participated in climate change negotiations as the First Secretary for Energy and Environment at the Foreign Commonwealth Office during the COP15. Academic credentials include a Postgraduate Diploma in Japanese from Durham University.