United Noy .:. Yann Arthus-Bertrand in USA

 A warm Reception…Inside
Mr. Arthus-Bertrand, 64, is distinctive as well.
Viewed by many here as a sort of French Al Gore, one with a white mustache,
a more flamboyant style and a similar, if perhaps slightly less articulate, message,
he has received some of his country’s highest distinctions, including the Légion d’Honneur,
and has had 12 French schools named after him. In 2009 he was appointed a goodwill
ambassador for the United Nations Environment Program.
But unlike many prominent environmental advocates,
Mr. Arthus-Bertrand has no scientific background and has never been a politician.
And in France, where credibility generally depends on one’s level of training or education,
successful careers like his are rare.

Pictures by Deidre Schoo for The New York Times