1/12Leilani Münter Takes Action
The Cove at Daytona
To raise awareness about Taiji, Japan’s infamous dolphin killing cove, and The Cove, the documentary that tells its story, Leliani raced a Cove-themed car at Daytona this year on February 18, the first ocean awareness-themed racecar to grace Daytona’s track.
2/12Leilani Münter Takes Action
Rainforest Protection
Leilani adopts an acre of rainforest every time she drives her racecar to offset the carbon footprint. This five-year-old habit was highlighted in a photo shoot for Italian Vogue.
3/12Leilani Münter Takes Action
Animal Rehabilitation
While attending the University of California in San Diego, Leilani volunteered at the local wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center. Here she is releasing an owl back into the wild in Asheville, North Carolina, for the Carolina Raptor Center.
4/12Leilani Münter Takes Action
Solar Thermal Farm
Leilani actively promotes clean energy, whether it’s meeting with members of Congress or visiting NextEra Energy Resources’ solar energy generating systems (SEGS)— the world’s largest solar thermal energy center—in the Mojave Desert.
5/12Leilani Münter Takes Action
Backyard Compost
Racing cars has heightened Leilani’s sense of responsibility to the earth. She composts all her household food waste in a special bin with water and leaves. The mixture naturally turns into a fertilizer rich in nutrients—great for gardening!
6/12Leilani Münter Takes Action
The Cove in Taiji, Japan
Since watching the Oscar-winning documentary The Cove, Leilani has traveled to Taiji, Japan three times to volunteer with Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project. Here she is on a cliff in Taiji, recording a dolphin slaughter.
7/12Leilani Münter Takes Action
Local Recycling Center
Leilani is a longtime supporter of banning plastic bags and discouraging the use of plastic bottles through the “Think Outside The Bottle” campaign. Here she visits a local recycling center, where 400 tons of plastic, paper, glass, etc. are recycled every day.
8/12Leilani Münter Takes Action
Zero-Emission Rally
Leilani has raced in The Viking Rally, a road rally across Norway for zero-emission cars. She drove a hydrogen-fuel-cell Ford Focus, which only emits water and heat. Here she tastes the exhaust water at the finish line.
9/12Leilani Münter Takes Action
Vegan Cooking
An almost lifelong vegetarian, Leilani is now a vegan. According to a landmark U.N. study, more greenhouse gas emissions come from raising livestock than all planes, trains, ships, cars, trucks, and other forms of fossil-fuel-based transportation combined.
10/12Leilani Münter Takes Action
Keynote Speeches
Leilani has given over 40 keynote speeches on the environment. She talks about the environmental issues we all face, her journey from biology graduate to racecar driver to environmental activist, and why it’s sometimes good to be different.
11/12Leilani Münter Takes Action
Rainwater Collection
This is Leilani’s rainwater collection tank by Living Rainwater Tanks. It holds 540 gallons of rainwater and is a simple, eco-friendly way to water household plants, vegetable gardens, and more.
12/12Leilani Münter Takes Action
Operation Free
Leilani’s sponsor for Kansas Speedway 2010 was Operation Free, a coalition of U.S. military veterans and national security organizations that advocates for clean energy and is dedicated to securing an America not reliant on oil.
