Gerald Karnas, Environmental Defense

Gerald Karnas is Florida Climate Project Director for Environmental Defense. Prior to joining Environmental Defense, Jerry Directed the Global Warming Campaign for the National Wildlife Federation in the Southeast. While with the National Wildlife Federation, Jerry also led campaigns to protect Florida's waterways and wildlife from mercury contamination, safeguard the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil drilling, and ensure that the Clean Water Act continues to provide protections for waterways.

He has been helping educate Floridians on conservation since the start of his career at Newfound Harbor Marine Institute on Florida's Big Pine Key. There he headed efforts to educate Florida's elementary, middle and High School students on coral reef ecology. In 1999, he joined the Save the Manatees Club, where he played an instrumental role in Gov. Jeb Bush's Manatee Summit, and helped local governments complete comprehensive manatee protection plans.

Jerry's background is steeped in Florida coastal life. During high school and college, he fished commercially for mullet and grouper in Cortez, Florida. He also built coastal commercial fishing boats, and remains an avid recreational angler today.