Events

Summer Issues Seminar is CCEEB’s annual members-only policy event, offering a week of in-depth exchanges on the most pressing legislative, regulatory, and environmental policy issues and emerging trends. Guest speakers include legislative leaders, key agency decision makers, environmental and community leaders, non-governmental organizations, and world-renowned academics.

“Can we have economic growth and a better environment? We can and we must.  For, in reality, we cannot divide and segregate economic and environmental issues.  The two are interrelated.  They are inextricably tied together, and the decisions we make about one affect the other.”
— Governor Edmund G. “Pat” Brown at the founding of CCEEB in 1973

Founded on the occasion of CCEEB’s 20th anniversary in 1993, the Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Awards recognize both an individual and an organization whose activities exemplify the principles of environmental and economic balance.  Named in honor of our founding Chairman, the awards seek to acknowledge those who continue their efforts to protect the environment while enhancing economic growth.

Eligibility 

All individuals and organizations are eligible to receive an award, including elected officials; environmental, community, labor, and business leaders; nonprofit organizations; advocacy groups; professional and trade associations; government agencies; businesses; as well as past nominees.  Any individual or organization may submit one or more nominations and may self-nominate.

The criteria for nominations are intended to be broad and may include anything from a lifetime of commitment to the ideals of environmental and economic balance to a specific project or endeavor.  CCEEB will recognize two recipients each year, representing two award categories: one award presented to an individual and one award presented to an organization.

About the Award

The Pat Brown Award is embodied in a handcrafted sculpture created for CCEEB by artist Cheryl Brink. The sculpture symbolizes the need to balance CCEEB’s tripartite coalition of business, labor, and public members. The three individual columns stand only through their connections to one another.

Nominations and Selection

2026 Edmund G. Pat Brown Award Recipient has been selected. Check back for the official announcement coming soon.

Past recipients:

• Governor Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown
• E2 Environmental Entrepreneurs
• Mary Nichols, Air Resources Board
• State Senator Fran Pavley
• Felicia Marcus, State Water Board
• Tom Graff, Environmental Defense Fund
• Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senate President pro Tem Don Perata and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez for passage of AB 32
• The Walt Disney Company
• The Dow Chemical Company for their Wetlands Preserve in Pittsburg, CA
• Steve McCormick of the Nature Conservancy
• San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District for collaboration on Tune In & Tune Up
• Sustainable Conservation & The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
• John Krautkraemer, Dan Nelson and Timothy Quinn, Bay/Delta Water Accord
• Robert Stavins, Harvard University
• Turlock Irrigation District, Solar AquaGrid, UC Merced and CA Dept. of Water Resources for Project Nexus
• Wine Institute, California Association of Winegrape Growers, and California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance
• Richard M. Rosenberg, Former Chairman, Bank America Corporation
• Donald Bren, The Irvine Company California
• Air Resources Board, Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the South Coast Air Quality Management District
• Lucy Blake and Linda Bagneschi
• Shaklee Corporation
• BP A+ for Energy Education Program
• 3M Corporation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Spare the Air Campaign, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Bay Area Rapid Transit District and Metropolitan Transportation Commission
• Robert Weisenmiller, California Energy Commission
• Sandy Berg, California Air Resources Board
• Ben Benoit, South Coast Air Quality Management District, Past Chair
• Doran Barnes, Foothill Transit

CCEEB develops its direction, issue prioritization, and work strategy from member input. The annual Planning Conference is our commitment to this bottom-up approach. The Planning Conference provides a hands-on, week-long working session to review achievements, prioritize issues, and develop strategies for achieving our regulatory, legislative, and advocacy goals for the upcoming year.