WHAT: For the sixth straight year, World Resources Institute President Jonathan Lash will hold a briefing to preview which key environmental issues to watch in the year ahead. 

    <p><b>WHEN:</b> <b>Wednesday, December 17, 2008<br />9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.</b><br />(Continental breakfast will be served)</p>          <p><b>WHERE:</b> <b>The Newseum Knight  Conference Center</b>              <br />Eighth Floor, 555 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington,  D.C.<br />(Enter on 6th Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and C Street, NW)</p><p><i>(Metro Stops: Judiciary Square/Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter/Gallery Place-Chinatown)</i></p>    <p><b>WHO:</b> <a href="http://www.wri.org/profile/jonathan-lash">Jonathan Lash</a>, president, World Resources Institute</p>  <p>Other top environmental experts from WRI will make short comments and answer questions.</p>    <p><b>WHY:</b> The U.S. government is transitioning and we&#39;re facing a major economic downturn. How will the environment and businesses be impacted? What can we expect from the Obama Administration and Congress? What role will the U.S. play in international climate policy?</p>    <p>Jonathan Lash<b> </b>was named one of the world&#39;s Top 100 Most Influential People in Finance in <i>Treasury &amp; Risk Management</i> magazine. He was the only leader of a non-profit environmental organization to make the list. <i>Rolling Stone </i>called him a &quot;climate &quot;warrior and hero,&quot; recognizing him for bridging the divide between industry and environmental leaders.</p>    <p>A former co-chair of President Clinton&#39;s Council on Sustainable Development and secretary of natural resources in Vermont, Lash currently serves on the advisory board of Generation Investment Management and on the GE Ecomagination Advisory Council.</p>    <p><b>RSVP:</b> Paul Mackie, WRI director of media relations, +1(202) 729-7684, <a href="mailto:pmackie@wri.org">pmackie@wri.org</a>          </p>