John Heermans

John Heermans is a climate change expert with 12 years of experience in strengthening and accelerating mitigation and adaptation action to reduce climate impacts. He has worked with national and sub-national governments, bilateral and multilateral development organizations, national and international climate funds, and the private sector to set, implement, and achieve ambitious climate commitments. He has extensive experience with UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Frameworks, including the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement, Sustainable Development Goals and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) through climate change policy, planning and financing and mainstreaming climate action to national development plans, public budgeting processes and international support programs.

As the Deputy Project Director for the USAID-funded Comprehensive Action for Climate Change Initiative (CACCI), Heermans leads technical activities to support countries’ implementation of NDCs and NAPs, working closely with USAID missions and national governments. Previously, while at the NDC Partnership, John helped countries revise and update their commitments to the Paris Agreement and develop implementation plans, while mobilizing development partners to integrate climate action into bilateral and global support programs. Through this role, he secured over $60 million in funding for climate projects in seven African countries, developed climate action and investment plans in seven African countries and one major U.S. city, and developed or strengthened institutional governance mechanisms that enable coordinated climate action in five African countries.

In Rwanda, Heermans supported the development of three renewable energy projects with a total value of $25 million, mobilizing $1.5 million for viability gap funding. He also supported the national climate fund, FONERWA, in reviewing proposals and determining funding allocations for locally led green growth projects. Additionally, he developed the Global Green Growth Institute’s first country program for Rwanda and supported sustainable urbanization activities in six secondary cities across the country. He has worked extensively across Africa and has lived on the continent for over 13 years.

Expertise

• Climate mitigation and adaptation planning and mainstreaming
• Finance mobilization and carbon markets
• Urban sustainability
• Carbon accounting and reporting

Key Projects

• Sustainable DC Plan for Washington, DC
• Nationally Determined Contribution revisions through the Climate Action Enhancement Package
• NDC Implementation Plans – Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, Namibia, Kenya, Ethiopia
• Socio-economic impact assessments of the shutdown, repurposing or repowering of seven coal fired power stations in South Africa
• Assessment of Emission Trading System and the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism for Moldova
• Carbon pricing for clean cooking in Zambia