New York, NY — The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) honored Ted Turner with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his leadership and role in expanding the Conservation Voter Movement, LCV’s network of 30 state affiliates, on Tuesday in New York City. Award-winning actress, activist, producer and author Jane Fonda presented the award to her friend Ted. Turner’s eldest daughter, environmental activist and LCV Board Member Laura Turner Seydel, accepted the award on her father’s behalf.

Washington State Senator Mona Das, youth climate activist Jerome Foster II, Former EPA Administrator and LCV Board Chair Carol M. Browner, and LCV President Gene Karpinski also spoke at the event and emphasized the importance of electing environmental champions at all levels of government in order to combat the climate crisis.

“We all know Ted Turner as a conservationist, a protector of wildlife — the real Captain Planet,” said Former EPA Administrator and LCV Board Chair Carol M. Browner. “What you may not know is that Ted was an original founder of the Conservation Voter Movement – LCV’s network of 32 state leagues. He recognized that who occupies our governors’ mansions matters; that who fills our state houses matters; that who leads our cities matters.”

“Never before has Ted’s vision been a more powerful and unified reality,” said Jane Fonda. “With a Conservation Voters Movement of over 30 state partners and one national partner, their collaborative focus on state and local policy is already paying dividends. 21 states are currently committed to 100% clean energy and more are poised to act soon. This is the future that Ted helped build.”

“The time is now to invest in our planet’s future,” said Ted Turner, in a letter read by his daughter and LCV Board Member Laura Turner Seydel. “I am an optimist and believe that if we work together, we are unstoppable when it comes to ensuring a livable planet for our children and grandchildren. Together, we truly can SAVE EVERYTHING.”

“I’m a member of LCV because large-scale progress on climate change will only happen when we force our elected leaders to take swift action and enact new climate policy,” said Jane Fonda. “The next president that walks into the White House needs to be ready to tackle this crisis on day one, and needs a Congress that is leading the way. I know that if we work together, we can win for the environment at the ballot box next November.”

“My family immigrated to the United States with only six dollars when I was just eight months old,” said Washington State Senator Mona Das. “I knew when I grew up I wanted to do good work, committed to equality and environmentalism. Today, as a Washington State Senator for the 47th district, I’ve helped get our state on track to have 80% of power come from non-carbon-emitting sources by 2030. And our policies and programs explicitly recognize the burden on lower-income communities and communities of color. I’m proud and humbled to be a part of this effort to protect our earth.”

“I feel great hope and pride as I strike, protest and speak truth to power with some of the bravest, smartest, and morally conscience young minds, and soon we will vote with the same passion and purpose,” said youth climate activist Jerome Foster II. “We are tomorrow’s transformative leaders and scientists. We are the greatest force for change the fossil fuel industry has ever faced when we vote.”

“As I like to say — Elections have consequences,” said LCV President Gene Karpinski. “In 2018, LCV and our 30 state affiliates launched the Clean Energy for All campaign to transition the United States to 100% clean energy. We secured commitments to 100% clean energy from over 600 elected officials who won their races at every level of government, including commitments from 10 new governors. Today, one in four people live in a state committed to 100% clean energy. This progress will not only help ease our carbon footprint, it is also helping to build momentum to the federal action that is essential to solving the climate crisis.”

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) works to turn environmental values into national, state and local priorities. LCV Victory Fund and affiliated entities invested over $80 million in the 2018 elections, helped elect a pro-environment House of Representatives, and our state LCV partners built more power at the state and local level. 2020 is gearing up to be the biggest election cycle ever for the LCV Victory Fund.

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