Our Leadership

Michael Battista is the Member Services Program Manager for the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance where he provides support for communications, media, events, operations, and research. In his previous role as Project Coordinator in the School of Graduate Studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology, he supported the programs of Global Fashion Management and Sustainable Interior Environments, producing media, and managing student and alumni relations, special events, and international seminars. Prior to joining FIT, he was the Executive Assistant and Engagement Manager for All Out, a digital campaign advocacy organization for LGBT equality operating in rapid response to the news cycle, and served in roles for the Offices of Protocol and Climate Protection Initiatives of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. He holds an AA in Communications and Media Arts from the State University of New York at Rockland, and a BA in Liberal Studies from San Francisco State University.

Irene García is the Built Environment Lead for CNCA, where she manages the “Dramatically Reducing Embodied Carbon in Europe” project. Prior to joining CNCA, Irene led the Sustainable and Livable Cities program at German Marshall Fund (GMF) Cities. While at GMF she also served on the Advisory Board of REN21 for their Renewables in Cities Global Status Report. Prior to joining GMF, Irene worked as policy officer at the World Future Council in Hamburg, where she advised policymakers on the transition to 100% renewable energy. Before that Irene was at ESADEgeo Barcelona and served as research analyst and speechwriter to Former EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, and as a research analyst working on research projects for The Brookings Institute and the Barcelona Metropolitan Region. Irene holds a MS in Urban Affairs from the Paris Institute of Political Studies and a MA in International Relations from the Barcelona Institute of International Studies. She speaks Spanish, English and French. Irene is based in Berlin. 

Having worked widely in the US, Europe and the Middle East on a broad range of initiatives aimed at securing just and sustainable futures, Simone brings over 20 years of international experience in the local government and non-profit sectors working with cities, stakeholders and communities on climate change and other urban sustainability issues with a strong commitment to embedding social equity in policy development and implementation. In addition to his professional experience Simone has served as traveling faculty in World Learning’s Cities in the 21st Century study abroad program, developed World Learning’s Rethinking Food Security program and is an external lecturer at the Polytechnic University of Turin in territorial and environmental planning. Simone holds a Bachelor degree in Community, Regional and Environmental Studies from Bard College and a Master in Regional Planning from Cornell University.

Tracy Morgenstern is the Director of Climate Justice for the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance where she leads efforts to advance the vision and goals established in the CNCA Climate Justice Statement through the Alliance’s programming. Tracy also serves as the Equitable Mobility Program Director for the Urban Sustainability Directors Network. Prior to joining CNCA, she worked for the City of Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment for twenty years, most recently as the Climate Protection Program Manager where she worked increasingly at the nexus of climate mitigation, adaptation, and equity. She has a Bachelor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Michael Shank is the Director of Engagement for the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance. In this role, Michael supports alliance members’ efforts to communicate ambitious climate action to the public, the press and other policymakers. As a climate communicator, Michael’s past clients include the United Nations and its member states, the U.S. Congress and Administration, and the Vatican, as well as leaders in the subnational space, such as the B Team, We Mean Business, Under 2 MOU and The Climate Group. Michael’s Ph.D. is in climate conflict; he teaches sustainable development and climate security graduate classes at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs.