Goldman Environmental Prize Blog

When Richard and Rhoda Goldman set out to create an environmental counterpart to the Nobel Prize, they only dreamed their work might change the world. “We have no idea how important this prize program will turn out to be,” said Rhoda, “but we hope it will be very important.” 32 Earth Days and 200+ Prize…

Prigi Arisandi (Indonesia, 2011) has embarked on a 300-day tour of Indonesia’s rivers, documenting the status of 68 unique waterways. Starting on March 1, 2022, the journey will take Prigi and his team at Ecological Observation and Wetlands Conservation Foundation (Ecoton) across 68 rivers spanning the entire Indonesian archipelago, from Sumatra to Papua. Many of…

Honoring grassroots environmental activists from around the world, the 33rd annual Goldman Environmental Prize ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. The theme for this year’s ceremony, re/Generation Now, is a global call to protect and restore our planet. Each year, Goldman Prize winners prove that individuals have the power to galvanize communities,…

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…