Goldman Environmental Prize Blog

Throughout history, women have been central to the environmental movement. They are activists, pioneers, and champions of change at local, national, and international levels. They question the status quo, educate and mobilize their communities, and persevere despite opposition. This year, in honor of International Women’s Day, we’re exploring the monumental role women of all backgrounds…

Colorful fish dotted the walls of Jean Wiener’s home office as he logged on to our interview. Outside in Washington, D.C., it was a high of 27 degrees Fahrenheit. Just a few weeks earlier, snow had blanketed the ground, giving the capitol city a white Christmas. It’s a far cry from the tropical climate of…

High school teacher Peggy O’Leary is a fine arts teacher at Sacred Heart Preparatory in Atherton, California. She wanted to incorporate stories of environmental and climate activism into her art class, so turned to the Goldman Environmental Prize winners for inspiration. We think the results are stunning. Below is a sampling of the student paintings.…

Our interview started with good news: Heffa Schücking (Germany, 1994) was celebrating the birth of her first grandson. When asked about the recent United Nations COP26 conference, the new grandmother laughed, saying, “I was rather afraid you’d ask this. I’ve been spending the days admiring my grandchild and changing diapers!” It was the first time…

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…

Environmental activism isn’t just about protecting the natural world—it’s also about protecting people. Nowhere is this concept better illustrated than with the environmental justice movement. At its most basic level, environmental justice asserts that environmental issues and social justice are inextricably linked. What is Environmental Justice? Environmental justice is the idea that people of all…

Among the most prominent environmental activists of the last century is the late Professor Wangari Maathai, who founded the Green Belt Movement and inspired hundreds of thousands of people around the world to push for environmental progress. In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of her 1991 Goldman Prize win—and the 10th anniversary of her passing—we’re…

In July 2020, the Goldman Environmental Foundation announced the 2020 grant recipients, 11 Goldman Prize winner organizations committed to improving our natural world through grassroots organizing, environmental education, and community empowerment. We are excited to share a summary of the results of 2020 grantmaking season, which began in July 2020 and concluded in July 2021.…

Four Goldman Prize winners recently completed a six-week personal and professional development leadership program. In the absence of in-person networking and international development opportunities typically provided to Prize winners as part of the Goldman Environmental Foundation’s programming, the Foundation teamed up with Design Pathways to support Prize winners virtually. An experienced leadership training organization, Design…

A Community Leader The day before our interview, environmental justice champion Hilton Kelley (United States, 2011) was celebrating his granddaughter’s birthday—“the big 10.” With powerful, broad shoulders and a thick, white beard, it’s easy to see how the former actor embodies the role of a slightly intimidating but nonetheless jovial grandfather. It’s a responsibility that…