Barack Obama's top environmental advisor to step down

WASHINGTON: The top environmental advisor to US President Barack Obama and an architect of many of the administration's climate policy initiatives will step down in February, the White House said today.

Nancy Sutley, Chair of White House Council on Environmental Quality, has held the post since 2009.

"As one of my top advisors, Nancy has played a central role in overseeing many of our biggest environmental accomplishments, including establishing historic new fuel economy standards that will save consumers money, new national monuments that permanently protect sites unique to our country's rich history and natural heritage, our first comprehensive National Ocean Policy, and our Climate Action Plan that will help leave our children a safer, healthier planet," Obama said.

"Under her leadership, Federal agencies are meeting the goals I set for them at the beginning of the administration by using less energy, reducing pollution, and saving taxpayer dollars," said the US President.

As the principal environmental policy adviser to Obama, Sutley helped to develop and coordinate the Administration's environmental and energy policies and initiatives.