President Obama Honors NRDC Co-Founder John Adams with Medal of Freedom
Washington, D.C. — In a historic moment for environmental advocacy, President Barack Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to John H. Adams, co-founder and longtime leader of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). This honor marks the first time an environmental advocate has received the nation’s highest civilian award.
Founded in 1970, the NRDC quickly became one of the most powerful environmental organizations in the country. Under Adams’ leadership, it helped shape critical legislation—from the Clean Air Act to the Clean Water Act. Adams served as NRDC’s executive director and later president for nearly four decades, leading landmark efforts to hold polluters accountable and protect natural resources.
“John Adams has spent a lifetime fighting for clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment,” said President Obama during the White House ceremony. “His leadership helped create a greener, more just America for all of us.”
Even after stepping down in 2006, Adams remained a powerful voice in the environmental movement. He continued his work through NRDC and served as a trustee for several national conservation groups.
John Adams: A Lifelong Defender of the Earth
Over the years, John Adams earned a reputation as a legal strategist, coalition builder, and public policy expert. His belief was also simple but powerful: the environment must be defended by law. With his guidance, NRDC grew from a startup legal nonprofit into a global environmental powerhouse with over 3 million members and online activists.
In 2010, John Adams co-authored A Force for Nature with his wife Patricia. In the book they are chronicling their decades together of environmental activism. The book also received praise for its honest, behind-the-scenes look at America’s environmental battles—and victories.
The Medal’s Deeper Meaning
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to individuals who have made “especially meritorious contributions” to the security or national interests of the United States. Especially also to world peace, or to cultural or public endeavors. By selecting John Adams, President Obama sent a strong message: defending the planet is also a public service of the highest order.
Other recipients that year included civil rights pioneers, artists, scientists, and also community leaders. Adams stood out finally as the sole honoree recognized for environmental work.
