San Francisco: The Goldman Environmental Prize has been awarded entirely to women, recognising six grassroots activists for their fight against climate change and biodiversity loss across the globe.
Established in 1989 by philanthropists Richard Goldman and Rhoda Goldman, the award, often dubbed the ‘Green Nobel’ honours one environmental hero from each of the world’s six regions. Each recipient receives $200,000 in prize money.
This year’s winners include Iroro Tanshi (Nigeria), Borim Kim (South Korea), Sarah Finch (United Kingdom), Theonila Roka Matbob (Papua New Guinea), Alannah Acaq Hurley (United States), and Yuvelis Morales Blanco (Colombia). Vice president John Goldman emphasised the significance of grassroots action in driving meaningful environmental change globally.
Grassroots activism drives major climate victories
In South and Central America, Morales Blanco successfully challenged major oil companies, helping halt commercial fracking in Colombia. Her activism began after a devastating 2018 oil spill along the Magdalena River, which displaced families and killed wildlife.
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Asia’s winner, Kim, founder of Youth 4 Climate Action, secured a landmark ruling from South Korea’s Constitutional Court, marking the continent’s first successful youth-led climate litigation and declaring inadequate climate policies a violation of future generations’ rights.
In Europe, Finch achieved a legal breakthrough with the ‘Finch ruling’ from the UK Supreme Court in 2024, requiring authorities to assess the global climate impact of fossil fuel extraction projects.
Mining and biodiversity battles take centre stage
Environmental protection efforts also extended to mining. In Papua New Guinea, Roka Matbob led a decades-long campaign forcing mining giant Rio Tinto to address environmental damage caused by the Panguna copper mine.
In North America, Acaq Hurley, representing the Yup’ik nation, worked with tribal groups to stop a major mining project in Alaska’s Bristol Bay, safeguarding critical ecosystems and the world’s largest wild salmon runs.
Meanwhile, Africa’s winner Tanshi rediscovered the endangered short-tailed roundleaf bat and continues efforts to protect its habitat in the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary from wildfires.
A milestone moment for environmental leadership
The 2026 edition of the Goldman Environmental Prize not only celebrates individual courage but also marks a historic milestone, highlighting the growing role of women at the forefront of global environmental advocacy.
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