FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dorothy Slater, slater@therevolvingdoorproject.org
In response to reports that Treasury Climate Counselor John Morton has returned to his position at Pollination Group, a climate change investment and advisory firm, Revolving Door Project Climate Research Director Dorothy Slater released the following statement:
“Morton’s rotation back out of government is only the latest example of a worrying and pervasive norm. As the Treasury Department’s first ever Climate Counselor, Morton did little of consequence. Exactly how little is impossible to say, because the department is delinquent on fulfilling its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act to turn over his calendar records. We first requested this information in February of 2022.”
“Morton’s tenure brought no visible advancement in the fight against climate change. The Treasury remains sluggish on advancing the US’s climate-related economic and financial regulations to meet international standards. It’s unclear what Morton even contributed to what little the Treasury has done — again, because the Department has not provided his calendars, and he rarely attended public events or consequential meetings, like the Financial Stability Oversight Council’s climate working group meetings. What Morton’s time at Treasury did offer him was first-hand knowledge of the likely course of U.S. financial and energy policy, which could help him beat the market as an investor at Pollination Group.”
Pollination is an investment firm that promises to navigate the climate transition by “design[ing] and invest[ing] in breakthrough ideas that deliver financial returns.” The group joined forces in 2020 with HSBC Global Asset Management to create an asset management venture focused on natural capital. Read our previous work on Morton here.
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PHOTO CREDIT: “Washington DC: Department of Treasury – South Wing” by wallyg is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.