Goldman Environmental Prize Blog

A Voice for Environmental Justice Kimberly Wasserman is a born organizer. Strong, joyful, and constantly evolving, she radiates warmth and energy. Secure in her beliefs but open minded and friendly, Kim’s power comes from both within herself and from her community on the Southwest side of Chicago: Little Village. Last month, we sat down with…

In July 2021, the Goldman Environmental Foundation announced the 2021 grant recipients, nine organizations led by or affiliated with Goldman Prize winners around the world. We are pleased to provide an update on their progress. 2021 Goldman Prize Grant Projects One-Year Grants Final Reports Listed in alphabetical order: CEDICAM: Led by Jesús León Santos (Mexico,…

Uncle Elephant They call him “Uncle Elephant.” Determined, intelligent, and kind, Sereivathana Tuy (known as “Vathana”) is everything you’d want in an uncle. He’s an ex-park ranger, National Geographic Explorer, and, most importantly, a committed conservationist who has devoted his life to protecting elephants in Cambodia. We chatted with Vathana about winning the Goldman Prize…

Happy New Year! A new year brings fresh inspiration, motivation, and possibilities. It also provides an opportunity for reflection—on the previous year, its highs and lows, and what lessons it conveys to us for the future. This past year, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in nature on several occasions. Memorably, my son and…

As 2022 concludes, we reflect on what a year it has been! Join us in celebrating some key moments at the Goldman Environmental Prize this year. 1. The 2022 Prize Winner Announcement The Goldman Prize was thrilled to welcome the 2022 winners: Chima Williams, Niwat Roykaew, Marjan Minnesma, Julien Vincent, Nalleli Cobo, and Alex Lucitante and Alexandra…

A Spanish version of this blog is available below. Una versión en español de este blog está disponible a continuación. Puerto Rico’s Environmental Revolution In a tropical sea, on a small island, in a lush forest, within the four walls of Casa Pueblo, a tiny revolution is growing. It’s a revolution born of love for…

The Cradle of Civilization Azzam Alwash was finishing a workout when he joined our video call. Full of energy and laughing, he pounded up the stairs to a rooftop deck and wiped a bead of sweat off his forehead as he held his phone in front of him. The setting sun illuminated the skyline behind…

Meeting Environmental Justice Leader, Makoma Lekalakala Dressed in vibrant colors and a traditional VhaVenda headscarf, Makoma Lekalakala is a striking figure, even on a pixelated computer screen. It was nighttime in South Africa; Makoma joined our call having recently flown into Durban. “I go where the people are,” she shared. Sometimes that means Johannesburg, sometimes…

Today, 52 Goldman Environmental Prize winners sent a letter to the members of the UN Human Rights Council in support of Nguy Thi Khanh, the 2018 Goldman Environmental Prize winner from Vietnam. Khanh is serving a two-year prison sentence in Vietnam for the alleged crime of tax evasion, widely understood as punishment for being an…

News headlines every few years can leave the impression that oil spills are rare, one-off events, like BP’s Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010 or the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster. In reality, they happen constantly: Over 700 million gallons of waste oil reach the ocean every year, destroying entire ecosystems and communities. Beyond its role in…