Meet Elizabeth Thompson

Fashion Designer Turned Environmental Lobbyist

Posted: 15-Aug-2006; Updated: 26-Feb-2007

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As a child, Elizabeth Thompson wanted to be a fashion designer. Now she designs global warming policy in Washington.

The 109th Congress is headed for the history books as one of the least productive of all time. That's especially frustrating for Environmental Defense's talented and devoted team of lobbyists. We caught up with director of 'all-things-Capitol Hill' Elizabeth Thompson as she was preparing for a much-deserved vacation in Maine with her husband and three children.

What do you do with your time when Congress is in hiding, as they seem to have been a lot lately?

Elizabeth: Our team is constantly working with bill language, educating  Hill staff, working with staff, building relationships with staff and Members all trying to get mandatory legislation on climate change. We have not seen the fruit – yet – of our labors on the Hill, but there's been a tremendous amount of activity.

What would you say has been your highest moment as legislative director?

Elizabeth: The highest moment has definitely been the first vote on McCain-Lieberman.  (Editorial Note – the Environmental Defense-sponsored legislation to establish mandatory global warming pollution caps and create a national trading system for emissions.) That was just great. We had a plan, it came together, Senators McCain and Lieberman were awesome. We fell a few votes short of a majority, but we came close, surprised a lot of people and made history. It felt just great.

Did you always want to be an environmental advocate? What did you want to be when you grow up when you were 10 years old?

Elizabeth: I wanted to be a fashion designer.

So what happened?

Elizabeth: I grew up in Manhattan, and my parents let me do summer courses at Parsons School of Design. I didn't even want to go to college. I just wanted to be a fashion designer.

How long did that phase last?

Elizabeth: I'd still like to do it!

I assume you saw The Devil Wears Prada.

Elizabeth: Absolutely. I loved Meryl Streep.

So how did you come to be an environmental advocate?

Elizabeth: I credit my husband with that. He has always been an avid environmentalist. I went through law school, but I didn't want work in a private firm. My husband encouraged me to go volunteer for an environmental non-profit, so I went into this place called Clean Air Council. I went in and said "I'm an attorney and I don't want to go into a private law firm," and [the man who was to become my boss] said "Well that's great, because I have a job for you." And that was it.

What else would you want people to know about you?

Elizabeth: I do it for my kids. That's the only reason I put up with Congress, because I have three kids.

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