Presented on October 22, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA at the Heinz Awards ceremony.

Good evening.

We gather tonight in the spirit of Senator John Heinz — a leader who believed that civic engagement, evidence, and empathy could help society solve even its toughest problems. The Heinz Awards remind us that progress begins when people turn ideals into action.

As someone who has spent over 25 years running Mongabay, a nonprofit environmental newsroom, I’ve seen how information itself can be a form of civic action.

Independent journalism, like the work recognized here tonight, strengthens democracy by ensuring that facts and free expression remain the foundation for problem-solving. It’s what connects a story on deforestation in Borneo, or an investigation to policy change in Brazil.

That same spirit of rigorous, solutions-oriented work defines this year’s Heinz Award recipients in the Environment category.

Dana Gunders is leading a national effort to reduce food waste — tackling one of the most overlooked drivers of climate change with practical, data-driven solutions that influence how households, corporations, and governments think about waste.

Dr. Sacoby Wilson empowers frontline communities through science. By helping residents gather and use local data to shape environmental policy, he is advancing justice and ensuring that those most affected by pollution have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives.

Their achievements show what’s possible when evidence, equity, and civic engagement come together — when information and action align.

And now, we will learn more about this year’s recipients in the Environment category, Dana Gunders and Sacoby Wilson, beginning with Dana.