SAN FRANCISCO – The Environmental Working Group is proud to announce five recipients of its 2024 Changemakers Award, which recognizes exceptional leaders in California business and politics who have dedicated their careers to protect public health and the environment.
The honorees will receive the award during EWG’s 15th Annual Earth Day Dinner, on April 18, in San Francisco. The dinner’s theme this year is “California Championing Change,” placing emphasis on the state and its leadership, which is paving the way for important progress in the fight to safeguard public health.
Over the past 12 years, 25 EWG-sponsored laws protecting people and the environment have become law in California.
2024 EWG Changemakers are:
- Debbie Levin, CEO of the Environmental Media Association, or EMA
- Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Burbank)
- Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino)
- Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena)
- Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance)
“We commend the 2024 EWG Changemakers for their outstanding contributions to environmental protection and public health,” said EWG President Ken Cook. “Their leadership and dedication serve as an inspiration to us all, and we are proud to honor them at our 15th Annual Earth Day Dinner.”
Through her leadership at the EMA, Levin has harnessed the power of the media and entertainment communities to drive social activism. This work has made her one of the most influential figures in both the environmental movement and the entertainment industry.
The four assemblymembers have shown unwavering commitment to environmental protection, public health and social justice on behalf of all California residents – dedication that shows in their legislative accomplishments in Sacramento.
Their work on pressing issues such as climate change, the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS and other harmful substances in consumer products and food, clean energy and sustainable communities, among others, has significantly contributed to California's leadership on these and many other initiatives.
EWG has sponsored or co-sponsored 16 bills authored by the assemblymembers who are being honored at the Earth Day Dinner. This total includes eight bills that cleared the Legislature and were signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
What award recipients say about being named EWG Changemakers:
Debbie Levin, CEO of EMA
Being recognized as one of EWG’s 2024 Changemakers is a tremendous honor. EWG and the Environmental Media Association share a fundamental desire to safeguard our future by championing transparency and awareness of what’s in products brought into our homes.
Communicating that by understanding ingredients can massively help to keep our families healthier. By weaving emotional connections through storytelling, we can all spark action and inspire a shift towards not only a safer planet but a safer home.
Assemblymember Laura Friedman
California leads the nation in clean air and water standards, preserving our natural resources, and banning dangerous chemicals and carcinogens from consumer goods, our homes and our environment. That work is accomplished by a small but fierce and dedicated army of environmental champions, buttressed and supported every step of the way by the Environmental Working Group.
Thank you to EWG and my fellow awardees for the work you do and the remarkable fruit of your labor.
Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel
The Environmental Working Group’s leadership to protect Californians from toxic and harmful chemicals has helped make our state a safer and healthier place for children and families.
I applaud EWG for their important work and I am grateful for their tireless advocacy as a sponsor of the California Food Safety Act, which made California the first state to ban four dangerous chemicals from use in foods.
Assemblymember Chris Holden
I am deeply honored to be recognized by EWG, an organization that shares my commitment to safeguarding our children from lead exposure. Lead contamination remains a critical issue, particularly affecting our youth and marginalized communities at disproportionate rates.
As someone who has long championed safe drinking water and led efforts to limit children's exposure to lead, I firmly believe that California must continue to take proactive measures to ensure the health and well-being of our youngest residents. It is our moral obligation to do everything in our power to shield the children of our state from this insidious neurotoxin.
Together, let us continue to work tirelessly to eradicate the threat of lead contamination and ensure a brighter, healthier future for all Californians.
Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi
As the lawmaker who spearheaded the California Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act, I am honored to be recognized by EWG as a Changemaker.
It’s rewarding to see our state leading the nation in setting stringent safety standards for personal care products. This law was born out of a desire to remove the most harmful chemicals from our routines, chemicals our children are exposed to from the products they use every day.
I want to acknowledge the support and collaboration of the Environmental Working Group, whose contribution was very much appreciated. And I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all my fellow Changemakers for prioritizing the well-being of Californians.
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The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.
