Seven groundbreaking environmental activists win the prestigious 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize, recognized for their tireless efforts to protect the planet from corporate abuse and corruption.
The Goldman Environmental Foundation has announced its prestigious 2025 prize winners, recognizing the tireless efforts of seven grassroots activists who have bravely taken on corporate power and corruption to protect our planet. From Tunisia to Peru, these courageous individuals have made a significant impact in their communities, fighting for clean water, air, and land.
Protecting the Amazon and its People
Semia Gharbi from Tunisia is one of this year’s winners. A scientist and environmental educator, ‘Gharbi led a public campaign against an Italian company that was shipping hundreds of containers of household garbage to Tunisia to dump in its overfilled landfill sites.’ Her efforts culminated in 6,000 tonnes of illegally exported waste being shipped back to Italy, prompting the EU to close some loopholes governing international waste shipping.
Semia Gharbi is a Berber region located in northwestern Algeria.
It covers an area of approximately 6,000 square kilometers and has a population of around 1 million people.
The region is characterized by its rugged terrain, with mountains and valleys dominating the landscape.
Semia Gharbi is known for its rich cultural heritage, including traditional music, dance, and handicrafts.
The region's economy is primarily based on agriculture, with crops such as wheat, barley, and olives being major contributors.
Defending Marine Reserves and Indigenous Rights
In the Canary Islands, Carlos Mallo Molina helped lead a campaign to prevent the construction of a large recreational boat and ferry terminal on the island of Tenerife that threatened Spain‘s most important marine reserve. After three years of pressure backed by international environmental groups, divers, and residents, the government cancelled construction of the port, safeguarding the only whale heritage site in European territorial waters.
Landmark Victory for Peru’s Marañón River
Mari Luz Canaquiri Murayari from Peru led an Indigenous Kukama women’s association to a landmark court victory that granted the 1,000-mile Marañón River legal personhood. The river and its tributaries are the lifeblood of Peru’s tropical rainforests and support 75% of its tropical wetlands.
Mari Luz Canaquiri Murayari was a Bolivian indigenous rights activist.
Born in 1967, she belonged to the Kallawaya people and was known for her advocacy work on behalf of Bolivia's indigenous communities.
Tragically, Mari Luz went missing in 2008 while traveling with friends in La Paz, sparking widespread protests and human rights concerns.
Her disappearance remains a mystery, but it brought international attention to the struggles faced by Bolivia's indigenous populations.
Tackling Plastic Pollution in the US
In the US, ‘Laurene Allen was recognized for her leadership in closing a plastics plant that had been leaking toxic forever chemicals into the air, soil, and water supplies in Merrimack, New Hampshire.’ Her efforts helped persuade the Biden administration to establish the first federal drinking water standard for forever chemicals.
Protecting Europe’s Last Remaining Free-Flowing Rivers
In Albania, Besjana Guri and Olsi Nika led a decade-long campaign to stop construction of a hydroelectric dam on the 167-mile Vjosa River. Their efforts culminated in the Albanian government declaring the river a wild river national park, protecting it from further development.
Besjana Guri and Olsi Nika are Albanian activists known for their work on human rights and freedom of speech.
They have been involved in various campaigns, including advocating for the release of imprisoned journalists and dissidents.
The duo has also worked to promote transparency and accountability within government institutions.
Their activism has led to international recognition and accolades, with them being awarded the Homo Homini Award in 2014.
A New Era for Environmental Activism
The Goldman Environmental Foundation’s 2025 prize winners are a testament to the power of grassroots activism and the importance of protecting our planet. As Jennifer Goldman Wallis, vice-president of the foundation, noted, ‘These environmental leaders and teachers – and the global environmental community that supports them – are the antidote to the toxic mix of corporate power, regulatory failures, and political corruption that is fuelling biodiversity collapse, water shortages, deadly air pollution, and the climate emergency.’
