Edward Norton

Actor, Social and Environmental Activist

"These ideas were all inspiring to read and it was difficult to choose between them. I was particularly glad to see that so many focused on how to educate and engage young people in changing our basic approach to how we live and on training people to think sustainably so that they will carry the lessons and come up with their own ideas. This was one of my main criteria in selecting the winners. Simple individual actions are important and inspiring, but clearly we need a radical re-education of our society to effect change at the speed we need it. Congratulations and thanks to everyone who submitted these ideas and kudos to SunChips and National Geographic for sponsoring such a thoughtful contest."
—Edward Norton on the Green Effect winners

Best known for his work as an actor, Edward Norton is also widely recognized for his environmental and social activism. He is long time board member of Enterprise Community Partners, one of the largest non-profit developers of affordable housing in America, and has played a leading role in promoting sustainable "green" affordable housing. He testified on the issue for Enterprise before the House Select Committee on Climate change, advocating for federal investment and standards to create more energy efficient housing development. Norton has also hosted the award winning National Geographic environmental series Strange Days on Planet Earth, which aired on PBS, and he is a founding Board member of Friends of the High Line, an advocacy group that has turned an abandoned elevated train trestle into an historic new park in Manhattan.