Rob Watson, “Father of LEED,” Joins Absolute Climate Advisory Board

Rob Watson, a pioneer in environmental standards and founder of the LEED Green Building Rating System, has joined the advisory board of Absolute Climate. 

He will advise on the development of the Absolute Carbon Standard, focusing on scientific rigor, transparency, and market alignment.

Watson, often called the “Father of LEED,” brings over 30 years of experience in sustainability and environmental policy. 

His work in creating LEED helped transform the global building industry and remains one of the most influential green certifications worldwide. Watson has also advised US agencies, international institutions, and climate organizations, earning the US Green Building Council’s Leadership Award.

He joins other climate leaders on Absolute Climate’s advisory board, including Giana Amador, Executive Director at the Carbon Removal Alliance and co-founder of Carbon180; and Erin Burns, Executive Director at Carbon180 and seasoned climate policy strategist.

Relevant: Absolute Climate Launches The First Industry-Wide Standard To Accelerate Carbon Removal Market

The advisory board plays a key role in shaping the Absolute Carbon Standard — an independent, science-based framework for evaluating carbon removal credits across all methods.

“Rob Watson has reshaped how organizations and nations approach environmental responsibility by building standards that are both scientifically rigorous and widely adopted,” said Peter Minor, CEO and co-founder of Absolute Climate.

“As carbon removal enters a defining moment, his experience in aligning integrity with impact will be instrumental in helping us establish a foundation the world can rely on.”

Read more: Gold Standard Unveils Certification Framework Updates To Boost Paris Agreement Alignment