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Biographical Profile
John B. Shlaes
John B. Shlaes is the executive director of the Global Climate Coalition (GCC), with more than
50 major corporations and trade organizations as members. GCC was formed to coordinate the
involvement of U.S. industry in the science and policy debates over global climate change.
Representing the GCC, Mr. Shlaes has delivered speeches related to global climate changes to a
wide range of international audiences, served as a resource for the media and policymakers, and
headed a group of business leaders who participated in the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
For 13 years prior to joining GCC, Mr. Shlaes served as director of government relations for the
Edison Electric Institute. There, he devised and managed industry-wide congressional, political,
coalition and grassroots programs in addition to serving as the utility industry's representative
and chief strategist with the White House and Cabinet.
Mr. Shlaes held several key posts in the White House under Presidents Nixon and Ford,
including staff assistant to the president, where he directed activities for 20 White House
Conferences on domestic, economic and regulatory reform; and director of communications for
the Office of Emergency Preparedness, where he served as a national spokesman and liaison with
industry during the energy crisis of 1973. In that role, he received the federal government's
highest honor the Distinguished Service Award.
Other posts held by Shlaes include special assistant to the director of the Peace Corps, consultant
to the director of the United States Information Agency, and advisor to U.S. delegations to two
United Nations' conferences.
Mr. Shlaes has been involved in a number of business, civic and charitable organizations over the
years and is the former president of the National Energy Resource Organization (NERO).
Mr. Shlaes holds a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Southern California, and
is a candidate for a master's degree in international transactions at George Mason University.