Dan Becker is the director of the Safe Climate Campaign, which he launched in July 2008. This new campaign fights global warming by:

* Pushing governments to adopt and implement strong laws cleaning up auto emissions,

* Pressing automakers to make clean cars and stop fighting sound environmental policies and

* Urging consumers to switch to clean cars and other clean transportation choices.

Between 1989 and 2007, Dan was Director of the Sierra Club's Global Warming Program. He developed and implemented advocacy and media strategies for Sierra Club grassroots volunteers, national and regional staff and federal decision makers. Dan developed and led Sierra Club's efforts to reach out to labor unions and served as the "green" co-chair of the resulting Blue-Green Alliance with the United Steelworkers Union.

Dan began his career working for Public Citizen's Congress Watch. As Director of Research he designed and directed studies on campaign finance, automotive safety and corporate responsibility and lobbied in support of numerous consumer and environmental issues. Subsequently, he worked as campaign coordinator for consumer advocate Mark Green's 1980 congressional campaign in New York City.

After earning his law degree from Northeastern University Law School, Dan became chief lobbyist for Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group (MASSPIRG), the largest public interest organization in Massachusetts. There he developed and implemented strategies to pass environmental and consumer protection legislation.

Prior to joining the Sierra Club in 1989, Dan was Legislative Counsel for Environmental Action, where he helped win passage of the federal Superfund law to clean up toxic waste and worked to pass a strengthened Clean Air Act.

In 1994, President Bill Clinton appointed Dan to the Presidential Advisory Committee on Personal Motor Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Reductions ("Car Talks"). On the panel, Dan was instrumental in assembling a working majority of the Committee. He then played a key role in developing and drafting the Majority Report to the President.

Dan has been recognized by foe and friend alike. Automotive News, Detroit's trade magazine, named Dan to its list of top 10 Washington players who most affect the auto industry. Rolling Stone magazine and Salon.com have named Dan one of the world's 28 "Climate Heroes," along with Tony Blair, Al Gore and James Hansen.


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James Gerstenzang, a Washington writer, covered every White House administration from that of Jimmy Carter to George W. Bush, first for the Associat

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