William (Bill) Sutton is Global Lead for Climate Smart Agriculture and Lead Agricultural Economist in the World Bank’s Agriculture & Food Global Practice. He has worked for over 25 years to promote sustainable development by integrating across sectors—including agriculture, environment, and climate change—and leading both investment and analytical projects in East Asia & the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East and North Africa. Until recently, he coordinated the World Bank's climate-smart and sustainable agriculture program in China, including preparing the innovative Hubei Smart and Sustainable Agriculture Project. He also led efforts in five Southeast Asian countries to build resilience to the El Niño Southern Oscillation in agri-food systems. He is lead author of the World Bank Global Flagship on Recipe for a Livable Planet: Achieving Net Zero Emissions in the Agrifood System.
Dr. Sutton has authored dozens of journal articles, reports, and books, including Looking Beyond the Horizon: How Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Responses Will Reshape Agriculture in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. He was awarded the World Bank Green Award in 2011 in recognition of his innovative work on climate change and agriculture. Dr. Sutton holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of California, Davis.