Dr. Nathan Debortoli

Climate Risk and Adaptation Project Manager

Nathan is our Climate Risk and Adaptation Project Manager, with more than 14 years of experience in delivering solutions that integrate climate, environment, socio-economic and institutional science.
Based
Montreal, Canada
Languages
English, Portuguese, French, Spanish

Climate change is multifaceted, with immediate and long-term impacts to our societies and the environment. We need to take a big-picture view of these impacts and understand the drivers and cascading effects of climate risks in all life dimensions. My passion is to provide ideas, services and solutions that help mitigate, adapt and innovate through environmentally respectful choices, based on people’s needs and economically sound decisions.

Nathan designs unique methods to combat climate change by fostering adaptation to natural risks at regional and national development scales. His experience spans a large range of ecosystems and social groups, and includes delivering analyses, vulnerability assessments, and cost calculations for environmental, climate, transportation and energy infrastructure.

Nathan has a PhD in Geography from the Université Rennes II in France, and a PhD in Sustainable Development from the University of Brasilia in Brazil. Nathan focused his studies on the impacts of deforestation and road construction in rainfall cycles mechanisms in the Brazilian Amazon. His methods included land use models, climatology information and remote sensing approaches. A respected industry leader, he has published numerous papers and presentations on the topics of vulnerability assessments and the impacts of climate change.

In addition, Nathan has delivered projects in more than 15 countries, including the Americas, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Europe. He has worked and developed studies for several universities and research centres in Brazil, Canada, France, and Germany. His work includes experience as a consultant and volunteer for NGOs (IFRC, WWF and Cuso International), international development agencies (UNFCCC, CIRAD, IRD, GIZ), Ministries (Environment, Science and Technology and Social Development in Brazil), Consortia (Ouranos - Canada) and federal-provincial governments in Canada and Brazil, including Transport Canada, IDRC, The Canadian Institute for Climate Choices, the Brazilian Ministry of Environment (MMA) and more.

Country experience:

  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • Dominica
  • France
  • Laos
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Saint Kitts & Nevis