2026 Goldman Environmental Prize Honors Six Women for Grassroots Activism

The 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize has made history by awarding its prestigious honor exclusively to women for the first time since its inception in 1989. This year’s recipients include Theonila Roka Matbob from Papua New Guinea, Yuvelis Morales Blanco from Colombia, Iroro Tanshi from Nigeria, Borim Kim from South Korea, Sarah Finch from the United Kingdom, and Alannah Acaq Hurley from the United States. Each honoree has made significant strides in environmental activism, addressing critical issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and the impacts of extractive industries.

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Theonila Roka Matbob, a member of the Nasioi people, grew up near the Panguna copper and gold mine in Bougainville, which operated from 1972 to 1989 under Rio Tinto. The mine's operations led to severe environmental degradation and a civil war that claimed thousands of lives, including Matbob's father. Her activism began in high school, culminating in a landmark human rights complaint against Rio Tinto. In 2024, the company signed a memorandum of understanding to address the environmental damage caused by the mine, marking a significant victory for Matbob and her community.

NPR

Yuvelis Morales Blanco, hailing from Puerto Wilches, Colombia, mobilized her community against proposed fracking projects by Ecopetrol, Colombia's largest oil company. Her activism gained momentum after a devastating oil spill in 2018, which forced families to relocate and killed thousands of fish. Morales' efforts led to the suspension of fracking contracts and a ruling by Colombia’s Constitutional Court affirming the community's right to free, prior, and informed consent. Despite facing threats to her safety, she continues to advocate for environmental justice.

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Iroro Tanshi, an ecologist from Nigeria, has been recognized for her work in the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, where she rediscovered the endangered short-tailed roundleaf bat. Tanshi launched a community-led initiative to prevent wildfires, which pose a significant threat to the bat's habitat. Her efforts have successfully minimized fire risks and protected biodiversity, showcasing the importance of grassroots action in conservation.

Nigerian wins global prize for trying to save bats in a country that shuns themMongabayMongabayNigerian conservationist Iroro Tanshi wins prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize

Borim Kim founded Youth 4 Climate Action in response to a deadly heatwave in 2018. Her organization successfully filed a youth-led climate lawsuit that resulted in a ruling from South Korea’s Constitutional Court, mandating the government to set legally binding emissions reduction targets. This landmark decision has inspired similar movements across Asia, emphasizing the role of youth in climate advocacy.

Common Dreams

Sarah Finch's activism began with local opposition to oil drilling in Surrey, England. She co-founded the Weald Action Group and led a legal challenge against the approval of a drilling site, arguing that the environmental impact assessment failed to consider the emissions from burning the extracted oil. In June 2024, the UK Supreme Court ruled in her favor, establishing that climate impacts must be assessed before granting extraction permits. This ruling has had far-reaching implications for fossil fuel projects in the UK.

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Alannah Acaq Hurley, representing the Yup’ik Indigenous people, successfully led a coalition to halt the proposed Pebble Mine in Alaska, which threatened vital salmon habitats. Her efforts culminated in the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to veto the project, highlighting the power of community organizing in environmental protection.

Mongabay

The 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize winners exemplify the critical role women play in environmental advocacy worldwide. Their achievements not only address local issues but also contribute to global efforts against climate change and biodiversity loss. As John Goldman, vice president of the Goldman Environmental Foundation, stated, “True leaders can be found all around us,” underscoring the importance of grassroots activism in creating meaningful progress.

Common Dreams