Maria Urrutia

Maria Urrutia
Master of Environmental Management, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, 2019

Maria is a second year M.E.M. student interested in sustainable development and the implementation of renewable energy systems as a climate change mitigation strategy. She is particularly interested in the development of renewable energy projects in developing countries, especially in her home country of Nicaragua. Maria believes an energy transition is not only necessary to combat climate change, but also to empower populations by solving energy security problems.

Most of her professional experience prior to Yale has been focused on conducting policy research at an international level. Maria has done policy research for the Ministry of the Environment in Nicaragua. While working for a Danish NGO, she also conducted energy policy research and contributed to the NGO’s climate change communication efforts.

Maria earned her BA in Environmental Policy from Colby College, Maine.

Authored Articles
A pollinator-friendly solar development

Pollinator-friendly solar / Photo courtesy of Rob Davis, Fresh Energy

Capturing the Private and Public Benefits of Pollinator-Friendly Solar

Pollinator-friendly solar, which incorporates native grasses and wildflowers throughout a solar installation, is one approach to cultivating additional land use benefits from solar projects. In two new Yale Center for Business and the Environment white papers, we explore the potential of this emerging practice.
International flags

A Key to Unlock Climate Finance

Developing countries are in need of significant financial investments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build climate resilience. In most developing countries, government investments for climate change are limited. Therefore, in order to fulfill their commitments to the Paris Agreement, governments need to rely on other external sources of funding...