WASHINGTON, D.C., November 3, 2005 - Jonathan Lash ended his days as a motorcycle enthusiast when his youngest daughter began to show a similar interest. These days, the president of the World Resources Institute still pours his enthusiasm into protecting people - but now it's in the area of the fight against climate change.

Lash's efforts were rewarded today when Rolling Stone Magazine named him to its list of 25 environmental leaders in the upcoming November 17 issue. The magazine posted its "Warriors & Heroes" list on its Web site today.

Rolling Stone singles Lash out as WRI's "go-between" to "bridge the bitter divide" between companies like IBM, General Electric, DuPont and Starbucks and "green groups determined to halt global warming."

"I'm not sure I've had as big an influence as the article suggests, but this is about managing risk and seizing opportunity for smart companies," Lash said. "And it's nice to be recognized by a publication my daughter reads."

This is the second time Lash has recently been singled out for his efforts. In June, he was named one of the 100 most influential people in finance by Treasury and Risk Management Magazine.

Other "Warriors & Heroes" in Rolling Stone include senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and WRI board member Al Gore. CEO of General Electric Jeff Immelt was also on the list. Immelt and Lash have worked together in the past, most recently when GE announced its "Ecomagination" initiative. Gore joined WRI's board in August 2005.

The World Resources Institute (www.wri.org) is an independent nonprofit organization with a staff of more than 100 scientists, economists, policy experts, business analysts, statistical analysts, mapmakers, and communicators working to protect the Earth and improve people's lives.

World Resources Institute

World Resources Institute

The World Resources Institute (WRI) is an environmental think tank that goes beyond research to find practical ways to protect the earth and improve people's lives. Our mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth's environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations. Because people are inspired by ideas, empowered by knowledge, and moved to change by greater understanding, WRI provides—and helps other institutions provide—objective information and practical proposals for policy and institutional change that will foster environmentally sound, socially equitable development. WRI organizes its work around four key goals:

People & Ecosystems: Reverse rapid degradation of ecosystems and assure their capacity to provide humans with needed goods and services.

Access: Guarantee public access to information and decisions regarding natural resources and the environment.

Climate Protection: Protect the global climate system from further harm due to emissions of greenhouse gases and help humanity and the natural world adapt to unavoidable climate change.

Markets & Enterprise: Harness markets and enterprise to expand economic opportunity and protect the environment.

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