Goldman Environmental Prize Blog

Despite dramatic differences in focus, tactics, and location (one in Germany and one in India), two Goldman Prize winners are united in their ongoing fight against a common enemy––coal. In 2019, the Goldman Environmental Foundation’s grantmaking program was thrilled to support the organizations of Heffa Schucking (Germany, 1994) and Ramesh Agrawal (India, 2014) in their…

Life on a Factory Farm “It’s like putting your head in a sewer pit.” 15 minutes into an interview with Lynn Henning (United States, 2010) this June, this statement stopped me in my tracks. Lynn described the stench that emanates from neighboring concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and wafts over to her backyard. There are…

Earlier this year, we made the extraordinary decision to postpone the announcement of the 2020 Goldman Environmental Prize. This unprecedented decision was not taken lightly; in our 30-year history, the Prize has been awarded each April, timed to coincide with Earth Day. 2020 has clearly been a year of firsts for all of us. We…

Eco-literacy books are on the rise for young readers, and it’s no wonder. With youth leaders like Greta Thunberg at the forefront of the climate change conversation, youths are becoming an increasingly outspoken and respected voice in the environmental moment. Riding this wave of awareness and eco-consciousness, publishers are seeing a rise in environmental children’s…

We are thrilled to launch our Prize Winners Today series, beginning this month with Eugène Rutagarama. Eugène won the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2001 for helping to rebuild Rwanda’s national parks system and protecting gorilla habitat in the wake of war and genocide in his country. Today, Eugène serves as a senior conservation advisor to the…

From the remote Cook Islands to the lush rainforests of Brazil to the great cities of China, the geographic and cultural diversity of Goldman Environmental Prize winners is profound. All 194 recipients, who hail from 89 different countries, are united by their character: courage, persistence, compassion, love for community, and deep passion for the natural…

The Goldman Environmental Prize is excited to announce the recipients of the 2020 Grantmaking program. Launched in 2015, the Grantmaking program supports past Goldman Prize winners to further their grassroots environmental work. Past grants have supported work in conservation, environmental justice, environmental education, and more. 2020 Goldman Prize Grant Recipients Listed in alphabetical order: Bangladesh…

By Ryan Mack Berta Cáceres (Honduras, 2015) was one of Latin America’s foremost activists, championing indigenous rights, social justice, and environmental protection for decades. For Berta, these were never separate issues. Environmental, indigenous, and human rights were all interconnected. Her work encapsulated these values more than any other activist I have met. On the night…

We are pleased to share the projects supported by the Goldman Environmental Prize’s Grantmaking program during the 2019 grant year (May 2019 – May 2020). Launched in 2015, the Grantmaking program is designed to support past Prize winners to further their grassroots environmental work. Past grants have supported work in conservation, environmental justice, environmental education,…

This June, participate in a digital film festival screening and live Q&A of the film Maxima by Claudia Sparrow. The award-winning documentary follows the story of Goldman Environmental Prize winner Maxima Acuña (Peru, 2016). The online festival is hosted by international NGO Human Rights Watch. Film synopsis: Maxima tells the incredible story of 2016 environmental Goldman Environmental Prize…