Alan Thein Durning (born 1964) is the founder and executive director of the Sightline Institute, (formerly Northwest Environment Watch), a non-profit organization based in Seattle, Washington, U.S..
Durning grew up in Seattle, spent his high school years in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and attended Oberlin College during the mid-1980s. From 1986 to 1993, Durning worked as a researcher at the Worldwatch Institute in Washington, D.C.. In 1993, Durning returned to Seattle and founded Northwest Environment Watch.
Durning is the author or coauthor of dozens of books and articles. His published books include:
Durning's newspaper and magazine articles have appeared in mainstream newspapers such as the New York Times and magazines such as the Utne Reader. Durning has been a commentator on National Public Radio, and has lectured at universities, conferences, and at the White House.