A biologist by training, Coon worked as an environmental educator, organizer, activist and manager for 33 years, 28 of those years with the Conservation Council of New Brunswick. Coon has also provided education and training in energy efficient home renovation and home-based renewable energy systems, writing a regular column for the Globe and Mail on the topic. During his time as Policy Director at the Conservation Council, Mr. Coon's work to protect drinking water led to the creation of New Brunswick's Clean Water Act and to the province's Petroleum Product Handling and Storage Regulation. This earned the New Brunswick environmental organizationthe United Nations Environmental Programme's Global 500 award. He was later awarded a silver medallion from the Canadian Environmental Achievement Awards for his work in advancing public policy on climate change, both provincially and nationally. Coon has advocated for community-based ecological resource management and land use. He worked with commercial fishermen's organizations to establish the Bay of Fundy Fisheries Council to advance community-based fishery management. His collaboration with the National Farmers Union helped create the first agricultural conservation club in New Brunswick. He was a founding director of Canada's first community supported agricultural initiative, Harvest Share Co-operative on Keswick Ridge, and co-founded the New Brunswick Community Land Trust.
Political career
Coon ran for the seat of Fredericton South in the Legislative Assembly in the 2014 provincial election, winning the vote. He is the second member of a provincial Green Party to win a seat in a provincial legislature, following Andrew Weaver in British Columbia. Since his election in 2014, Coon has introduced private member's bills aimed at increasing local food security and expanding local agriculture, creating jobs in energy efficient building renovations and renewable energy, lowering the voting age, protecting citizens against frivolous lawsuits, and making the teaching of the First Nations’ experience mandatory in the public school system. He has championed improving access to both mental and primary health care. Coon is a member of the Standing Committees on , , and . He is also a member of the Legislative Administration Committee and served as a member of the Select Committee on Climate Change.
