David Baker

David Baker served on EWG’s board for more than two decades before his passing in 2026. 

Baker was a leader in the environmental justice movement. His unwavering commitment to equity, public health and community advocacy helped shape EWG. Baker understood that low-income communities and communities of color too often bear the greatest burden of pollution. He spent his life demanding accountability, transparency and justice.

As founder and executive director of Community Against Pollution, in Anniston, Ala., Baker dedicated his life to holding powerful polluters accountable. He fought for families whose communities had been burdened by toxic contamination. 

Baker was a longtime member of the NAACP and the Coalition for Black Trade Unionists. 

Baker earned a degree in labor management from Cornell University. He received an honorary doctorate from the Alabama Legislature, in 2003. He was recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency with awards for outstanding leadership and contributions to the advancement of environmental justice. His work was also featured in Dennis Love’s book, “My City Was Gone.” 

His work became a model for grassroots environmental justice advocacy nationally and inspired generations of advocates to stand up for clean air, clean water and healthy communities. He provided wise counsel, principled leadership and a constant reminder that environmental protection is fundamentally about protecting people.