fbpx
Skip to content

Goldman Prize Executive Director Michael Sutton on Why Grassroots Environmentalists Give Him Hope for Our Planet

January 5, 2022

When I reflect on our work at the Goldman Environmental Prize, I occasionally catch myself wondering: Is our collective progress too incremental? What impact can a grandmother in Louisiana, a lawyer in Liberia, or a student in Malawi have on our global climate or the protection of natural resources? Is it enough?

It usually doesn’t take me long to answer with a resounding YES. If people from all walks of life like our Prize winners can do such extraordinary things to protect the planet, then any one of us is capable. The role models mentioned above remind us to move beyond apathy or complacency—and to act. If each one of us can move mountains, then there is indeed hope. And, with hope and inspiration, we can tackle any issue—even one as daunting as climate change.

Goldman Prize winners have shown us time and time again that singular victories can snowball into an overwhelming positive force, capable of shifting political narratives and transcending geographic and cultural differences. What’s more, the 206 Prize winners recognized to date represent only a fraction of the rising tide of people around the world—organizers, educators, artists, and scientists—who are demanding change not only with their voices, but also with their wallets, ballots, and changing patterns of consumption.

As digital technology and social media platforms empower a new generation of activists, grassroots advocacy has become a global force to be reckoned with. The climate marches held around the world during COP26 offered a snapshot of the coordination and momentum behind today’s environmental movement—a movement powered by the grassroots.

We are living in a defining decade for climate action—or climate inaction. To ensure that it is the former, we must create space for an inclusive and dynamic grassroots movement, featuring diverse voices and environmental justice for all. We also understand now that traditional stewardship of nature is one of the keys to a sustainable future; there is much to learn about balance and interconnectivity from Indigenous cultures around the world. While these conversations challenge the status quo, uncomfortable conversations are far better than the alternative: the discomfort of living in a world with unpotable water, extinct tigers, or temperatures 2°C warmer.

I’m confident in our ability to right our ship, but it is imperative that we dig in. We must combat hopelessness and apathy, we must hold our leaders accountable for action, and we must get involved. As Kimiko Hirata (Japan, 2021) said, “To save our climate, we need systemic change. And we need people to take part in it.”

Sincerely,

Mike Sutton

Michael Sutton

About the author

Michael Sutton

Executive Director

Mike is a respected environmental conservation leader with extensive experience managing nonprofit organizations, influencing public policy, advocating for natural resources, and guiding successful philanthropic efforts. His distinguished career has ranged from work with the National Park Service to senior conservation roles at the World Wildlife Fund, the David & Lucile Packard Foundation, the California Fish & Game Commission, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and National Audubon Society. Mike received his BS in Wildlife Biology at Utah State University; did graduate studies in Marine Biology at the University of Sydney, Australia; and, received a law degree with honors from George Washington University’s National Law Center. He joined the Prize in 2018.

Recent Posts

Prize Winners Today: mark! Lopez Tackles Environmental Injustice in Los Angeles


October 8, 2024 – By Ellen Lomonico

In today’s world of magical modernity, we can have anything we want the next day. A pack of socks, a Cuisinart® food processor (top rated), a new electric toothbrush—a click of a button and poof!—it appears at my doorstep. I fold up the cardboard packaging into my apartment’s blue bin where it will be recycled…

Read more

COP16: What to Know about the 2024 UN Biodiversity Conference


October 2, 2024

What is COP16? “COP16” refers to the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16). This year’s COP will be held in Cali, Colombia, October 21 through November 1. The conference theme is “Peace with Nature.” The goal of COP16 is for participants to develop…

Read more

Prize Winners Today: Restoring Scotland’s Seas with Howard Wood


September 10, 2024 – By Ellen Lomonico

I met Howard Wood a year ago in Geneva, Switzerland, for a conference hosted by IUCN. As we approached each other in our hotel’s eclectic lobby, Howard’s well-worn Patagonia sweater contrasted sharply with the vibrant pink decor. With bright blue eyes that sparkled from underneath a salt-weathered baseball cap, Howard greeted me with a warm…

Read more