Elyse Blondell

Elyse Blondell began her fellowship with NUREC as part of the NATURA early-career fellowship to explore nature-based solutions for urban resilience. She is currently working on developing a conceptual diagram linking urban ecosystems, green infrastructure, and ecosystem services to inform planning strategies. She is also authoring a white paper to provide actionable recommendations for urban ecosystem management, with plans for submission to the Journal of Extension. Her work aims to support practitioners and inform municipal planning strategies.

Elyse is a Relationship Manager at CDP, working with financial institutions and corporations to support environmental disclosure across climate, forests, and water. Her role focuses on stakeholder engagement, guiding organizations through reporting frameworks, and contributing to global efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability in environmental governance.

Originally from Toronto, she moved to London to pursue a MSc in Environment and Sustainable Development at University College London. Her academic and professional work centers on climate governance, with a particular interest in how power, participation, and knowledge shape environmental decision-making. Her dissertation explored how Indigenous women in the Brazilian Amazon resist top-down environmental policies and develop alternative governance models grounded in autonomy and collective care.

Prior to joining CDP, Elyse worked at the Commonwealth Secretariat, where she supported policy research and stakeholder coordination on climate resilience and land governance across member states. She has also contributed to international research and policy initiatives, including with the Stockholm International Water Institute.

Elyse is particularly interested in advancing more inclusive and equitable approaches to climate policy and governance. In her free time, Elyse enjoys reading, traveling, and exploring new neighborhoods in London.