Gernot Wagner is a research associate at Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, a lecturer on Environmental Science and Public Policy, executive director of Harvard's Solar Geoengineering Research Program, and an associate at the Harvard University Center for the Environment.

Wrote "Climate Shock," with Harvard's Martin Weitzman and published by Princeton University Press (2015, paperback 2016), a Top 15 Financial Times McKinsey Business Book of the Year 2015, now also Austria's Natural Science Book of the Year 2017; and But will the planet notice?, published by Hill & Wang/Farrar Strauss & Giroux (2011, paperback 2012).

Teaches "Climate Policy—Past, Present, and Future" at Harvard College. Previously he taught energy economics as adjunct associate professor at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs (2011 – 2015) and at NYU Stern School of Business (2016).

Served as an economist at the Environment Defense Fund (2008 – 2016), most recently as its lead senior economist (2014 – 2016) and member of its Leadership Council (2015 – 2016).

Holds a joint bachelor's magna cum laude with highest honors in environmental science, public policy, and economics, and a master's and Ph.D. in political economy and government from Harvard, as well as a master's in economics from Stanford.

Is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a consultant for EDF.

Lives in Cambridge, MA, with his wife, Siripanth Nippita, a gynecologist at Harvard's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and their two young children, Annan and Sonja.