Emily Nobel Maxwell founded Nobel Cause Consulting in 2024 to help organizations and leaders meaningfully advance social and environmental justice for a greener, more just world. Emily is passionate about producing effective, just, lasting results that serve the interdependent needs of communities and the environment, ultimately addressing the twin biodiversity and climate crises.

With 25 years of on-the-ground leadership experience, Emily has designed and led numerous successful environmental initiatives that centered on social justice and urban sustainability, from campaigns to organizations. From her start as the founder of a grassroots advocacy organization to launching successful programs at national environmental organizations, her leadership has resulted in the protection of community gardens, equitable incentives for green roofs, effective broad-based coalitions, novel urban forest policy, lasting organizational change, and greener cities.

An inspiring public speaker, author, and recognized media voice, Emily has presented in venues from neighborhood schools to the United Nations on the essential role of urban nature in climate change adaptation and mitigation; improving our quality of life; environmental racism and justice; and growing equitable, healthy, resilient communities. She has been widely quoted in media from local papers to the NY Times and the Guardian.

Emily has a B.A. in Urban Studies from The New School and M.S. in Natural Resource Policy and Behavior with a specialization in Environmental Justice from University of Michigan. In her spare time, she can be found exploring the diverse birds and mushrooms of NYC and the Adirondacks.

Past experience