June 30, 2025
A lifelong environmental educator and scientist, Semia Gharbi is the 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize winner for Africa. In our discussion, Semia digs into her work as an environmental advocate in Tunisia, starting with her Goldman Prize-winning campaign to reverse the illegal import of waste into her country. Semia also discusses her collaborative work to build environmentally friendly standards across the region.
Goldman Prize: Welcome, Semia. We’re excited for the opportunity to sit down with you and learn more about your work, especially as this is the first Goldman Prize for Tunisia.
Semia: Thank you so much. It’s a pleasure to speak with you. Receiving the Goldman Prize is an honor, not just for us as Tunisian women and African women, but for the entire African continent.
Goldman Prize: We’d love to start by talking about your background. Where did your interest in the environment begin?
Semia: My interest in the environment began in childhood, inspired by my mother’s deep love for nature. She was always encouraging us to appreciate the natural world. Later, during my time at university, I gained exposure to environmental science for the first time—completely by chance, my third year was the first time the Faculté des Sciences de Tunis offered a module on environmental science. I have a naturally analytical mindset, and I quickly realized that environmental science is deeply interdisciplinary, requiring knowledge across multiple domains to truly understand its challenges. I loved that it meant thinking holistically about the world.
Goldman Prize: Switching gears to talk about your campaign, how did you find out about the waste scandal between Italy and Tunisia?
Semia: As a member of the Green Tunisia Network and co-founder of Association of Environmental Education for Future Generations (AEEFG), we became aware of the alarming waste trafficking incident from Italy to Tunisia. The idea of Tunisia becoming a dumping ground for foreign waste—likely destined for incineration—was unacceptable for us.
As members of civil society, we knew we had to act and help support our government in reversing the shipment of this illegal waste. Civil society plays a key role in being on the ground, engaging with communities, and ensuring community voices are heard. We share a common mission: to protect human health and the environment. Environmental activism knows no borders.
With that in mind, our next steps were clear. We gathered firsthand information, collaborated with national NGOs, and strengthened communication with the government. We also relied on our pre-existing network of regional and international partners, which was key in increasing global awareness of our campaign.
Goldman Prize: We know that your campaign lasted for many months. What was one of the biggest challenges you had to overcome throughout your campaign?
Semia: The main challenge was that we had to work quickly. Some waste trafficking cases in other countries have taken over seven years to resolve, and some are never reversed at all. We knew time was against us and we had to act. Support from journalists, both national and international, was crucial in raising awareness, and encouraged citizens to become engaged.
Goldman Prize: Take yourself back to February 2022: How did you feel when you learned that the governments of Tunisia and Italy agreed to return the remaining 212 containers—carrying approximately 6,000 tons of household waste—back to Italy?
Semia: Well, from the beginning, this never should have happened. We are not a dumping ground for developing countries. So, as many African countries suffer from waste colonialism, I think of this as a win for the entire African continent.
Developed countries must take responsibility for managing their own waste within their own borders rather than exporting it elsewhere. While some developed countries have responded by amending waste export regulations, which is a positive step, it is not enough. Stronger enforcement and awareness are needed to end illegal waste dumping and ensure policies are continually refined to close existing loopholes. Additionally, these countries have the technology, capacity, and expertise to implement sustainable waste management solutions, so instead of shifting their burden onto developing nations, they should share their knowledge. We also have our own waste! Rather than adding to our challenges, a much more constructive approach would be to support us in developing waste management tools.
This is not just about fairness—it’s about shared survival. Our planet is like a shared home, where every system is linked, like rooms in a house. When you discard toxic products in one room, they will come back to affect you. Every human has the right to live in a healthy environment. We all share the same home.
Goldman Prize: In addition to your work with AEEFG, you are also the Middle East and North Africa coordinator for the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) and the co-founder of the Green Tunisia Network, a network of more than 100 environmental organizations. We’d love to learn about what you are working on now.
Semia: Specific to AEEFG’s work in Tunisia, we have made significant progress at the national level. We have achieved a national ban on 24 highly hazardous pesticides and are currently leading the first-ever analysis of children’s toys in Tunisia. We are also working alongside the government to develop lead paint regulations and develop a circular approach for toxic chemical management. We have a very positive relationship with the government and regularly share reports to help advise their decision-making. AEEFG also collaborates with other networks. For example, we are a member of the Global Network on Women, where we focus on empowering rural women to protect their health and their children from harmful agricultural chemicals.
Across AEEFG and the entire Middle Eastern IPEN network, all of our work is deeply interconnected. Our partnerships and networks are key in helping build knowledge, amplify impact, and empower communities. Together, we can ensure that local knowledge can have a global effect.
Goldman Prize: Thank you, Semia.
Semia: Thank you to the Goldman Prize for this incredible opportunity. Despite the many environmental challenges we face, my advice is to keep your energy positive. Many people may not yet understand environmental issues, so keep sharing knowledge with a smile. Then, once trust is established, you can gradually introduce the more difficult realities and ensure that awareness leads to action.
