News Releases from Headquarters›Air and Radiation (OAR)

EPA Employee Selected as Winner of 2015 Service to America Medal/Cookstoves initiative improving lives of millions by reducing indoor smoke exposure

WASHINGTON- Today, the Partnership for Public Service selected Jacob Moss as winner of one of the most prestigious 2015 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals (Sammies), which highlight America's dedicated federal workers who have made significant contributions to our country.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proud that Jacob Moss is the recipient of the Science and Environment Medal for his commitment and innovation in helping to create and lead an initiative to enable homes in developing nations to adopt cleaner, more efficient cookstoves and fuels to improve health and save lives.

"Jacob truly embodies the spirit of commitment and service that this award honors," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. "He has dedicated his professional life to eliminating the risks of toxic smoke from indoor cookstoves - one of the deadliest threats facing billions of people across the developing world."

Jacob was a central architect of an alliance of federal and international agencies, countries and cooperations, called the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, that is led by the United Nations Foundation. The Alliance's more than 1300 partners have committed more than $800 million - including U.S. government support expected to exceed $300 million - to meet a goal of improving 500 million lives in 100 million households by 2020

The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves has already improved the lives of 100 million people living in the poorest areas of the world by reducing the health risks of indoor smoke from cooking meals over open fires and crude stoves. Exposure to indoor smoke from cooking is the world's fourth worst health risk and the World Health Organization estimates that it kills 4.3 million people every year.

The Service to America Medal recipients were nominated by colleagues familiar with their work and selected by a committee that includes leaders in government, academia, the private sector, media and philanthropy. Nearly 500 nominations were submitted this year for consideration.

Link to video: https://youtu.be/YtuaNcZbIE8