Robert Redford: The Environmental Movement Has Lost a Giant
For five decades, Redford was an NRDC trustee, selflessly working to elevate its issues and support the organization.
Actor and NRDC trustee Robert Redford on January 22, 2015 in Park City, Utah
LOS ANGELES – The environmental movement lost one of its most devoted and high-profile champions with the passing of Robert Redford overnight. For five decades, Redford was an NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) trustee, selflessly working to elevate its issues and support the organization. For decades, he used his public profile to advocate for public lands in the West, wildlife, Native American environmental justice, climate action, and more. In 2003, NRDC’s office in Santa Monica, California, was named in his honor.
Following is reaction from Manish Bapna, president and CEO at NRDC:
“The environmental movement has lost a giant. Nobody has done more to shine a light on the most important environmental issues from the dawn of the environmental movement in the ‘70s through the biodiversity and climate crises of today. We must continue to honor his vision in the difficult environmental landscape we face today.
“A half-century ago, Robert Redford recognized the importance of storytelling to capture public imagination in the push for ambitious change. That vision helped reach newer and bigger audiences to transform, broaden, and grow the environmental movement.
“Redford often pointed to his early experiences working on rigs in California’s oil fields as pushing him down the path of environmentalism. After witnessing the impact of the wells on the landscape, he worked tirelessly for a better future.
“One of my colleagues happily remembered Redford joking that he would ‘take care of the compost’ in exchange for NRDC naming the building after him. Over 50 years, he did far more than that—he was our biggest champion and our guiding light. Even as one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, he was a tireless and humble advocate—always approachable, engaged, and willing to roll up his sleeves. He did so much more than sign his name on countless letters to our supporters and decision-makers; Redford understood the issues and got to work. And he did it because he genuinely cared.
“NRDC will be forever grateful for the immeasurable impact he's made on our organization, on the modern environmental movement, and on the planet we all call home.”
Background
In 1974, fresh off a string of critically acclaimed movies, Redford was involved in fighting the construction of a massive coal-fired power plant in southern Utah an area that would someday become part of Grand Staircase-Escalante, one of the most beautiful national monuments in America. He asked NRDC for help because he knew about our legal prowess—our unique ability to leverage the power of law to defend nature, wild places, our environment, and our health.
This partnership would go on to span five decades, during which Redford's vision and advocacy have led to many landmark environmental fights and victories.
A few highlights from NRDC's 50 years of partnership with Robert Redford
For more on Redford’s environmental legacy, see Nature’s Voice Special Issue by NRDC.
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).