May 10, 2013
While in Washington, DC, the 2013 Goldman Prize recipients met with longtime friend of the Prize, Chair Nancy Sutley of the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and Deputy Assistant for Energy and Climate Change Heather Zichal.
After Chair Sutley and Ms. Zichal congratulated the 2013 Prize recipients on their accomplishments, each of the Prize recipients had the opportunity to share their stories and discuss ways the CEQ could support them in their work.
The group discussed the ramifications of our fossil fuel driven society and the impact of climate change on local communities. They also commented on the necessity of scientific research for making sound development decisions, especially in regard to resource extraction.
Chair Sutley emphasized the importance of involving the public in government decisions, saying, “The law that created the CEQ also created a requirement for the federal government to review environmental impacts of all decision it makes. The US wanted to create an opportunity for the public to participate in decisions the government makes… It has made an enormous difference in providing people an opportunity to participate in government decision making. We think this is a model many countries could adopt.”
