CV
Contact Information
| Name | Paul J. Parks |
| Profession | Consultant |
| Location | Reggio Emilia, Italy |
Professional Summary
Paul was a founder in two startups, one in Norway and the other in Nigeria, that work at the intersection of energy and climate on both policy development and project implementation. On climate, he was involved in some of the first and largest implementation projects under the UN Climate Protocols across Africa, the Middle East, and former Soviet States. In diplomacy he worked on global energy security, the Oslo Peace Accords in Palestine, and post-conflict issues in the Balkans. He worked at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the US State Department (USAID) and on projects for the United Nations Development Program, the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as well as major development agencies and private companies.
Experience
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2010 - 2022 Nigeria
Managing Director and a Founder
Carbon-Limits Nigeria
The startup was established in Lagos in 2010 as a Joint Venture between Carbon Limits (Norway) and Nigerian investors and was the first climate-focused start-up established in Africa. Projects included electricity generation, gas flare reduction, and biofuels that focused on reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and supporting sustainable development. Additionally the company worked with governments and donor agencies on climate policies and their implementation.
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2004 - 2022 Oslo, Norway
Director and Partner
Carbon Limits
This startup was a spin off from an existing Norwegian consulting firm and focused on developing energy projects covered under the UN Climate Protocols. The company did extensive work in the Russian Federation and former Soviet states as well as in Africa. A multiyear project under a Norwegian initiative assisted the Iranian Ministry of Petroleum on projects to reduce GHG emissions in the upstream sector.
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2002 - 2004 Macedonia
Country Director
Institute for Sustainable Communities
Headed a major American (USAID) initiative on improving social and economic conditions within Macedonia and the Balkans. Activities ranged from local environment improvement, HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, reducing human trafficking, and poverty alleviation among Roma. Mr. Parks was personally sited by both the US State Department and the Government of Macedonia for “dedication and leadership” in the area of HIV/AIDS.
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1997 - 2002 France and Italy
Independent Consultant
Independent Consultant
Extensively involved in a Norwegian initiative that analyzed the economic and social impacts in Palestine’s negotiations under the Oslo Peace Accords. In Kenya, Zimbabwe and Romania worked on energy efficiency policies and project finance. In the Republic of Georgia, directed a UNDP project on reducing transport emissions and development of ambient air policy. In Azerbaijan under the UNDP advised on industrial restructuring as it entered a market economy.
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1993 - 1997 Washington DC
Senior Environmental Investment Advisor
US Department of State (USAID)
His primary focus was the implementation of USAID´s program (approximately $6 million annually) to support environmental health investments and related policy development across Central Europe. A major initiative was reducing coal related pollution in Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
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1986 - 1989 Paris,France
Principal Administrator
Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (International Energy Agency)
Responsible for researching and providing assessments of energy trends and structural changes within the global oil and gas industry for member governments and industry
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1975 - 1979 Texas, USA
Planning and project positions in the US upstream energy
Major US Energy Firms
During this period, he was Regional Planning and Evaluation Manager for Occidental Petroleum; Corporate Coordinator for Economic Evaluation for El Paso Natural Gas and Senior Project Manager for Union Pacific Corporation energy division.
Education
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1979 - 1981 Cambridge, USA
Master in Public Policy
Harvard University
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1970 - 1974 Dallas, USA
Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts
Southern Methodist University
Geology and Economics