Celebrating the 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize Winners
On Monday, the Goldman Environmental Foundation unveiled the names of the seven grassroots environmental activists who will receive the prestigious 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize. This award recognizes individuals from across the globe who have made substantial contributions to environmental protection, often while facing significant personal risks.
Jennifer Goldman Wallis, vice president of the Goldman Environmental Foundation, emphasized the vital role these leaders play during challenging times for both humanity and the planet. “It’s been a tough year for both people and the planet,” she stated. “However, these environmental leaders serve as powerful reminders of what is possible through determination, resilience, and hope.”
Profile of the Winners
Since its inception in 1989, the Goldman Environmental Prize has honored individuals from the world’s six inhabited continental regions for their sustained efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment. Below are the profiles of this year’s awardees:
Africa: Semia Gharbi (Tunisia)
Semia Gharbi, a 57-year-old scientist and environmental educator, successfully led a campaign against a waste trafficking scandal involving Italy and Tunisia. Her efforts resulted in the arrest of over 40 individuals and the implementation of stricter European Union export regulations.
Asia: Batmunkh Luvsandash (Mongolia)
At 81, Batmunkh Luvsandash, a former electrical engineer, has dedicated his life to protecting 66,000 acres of pristine land in Mongolia’s Dornogovi province from extractive industries.
Europe: Besjana Guri and Olsi Nika (Albania)
Albanian activists Besjana Guri, 37, and Olsi Nika, 39, successfully campaigned against a hydropower dam development that threatened the Vjosa River, resulting in Albania’s first national park focused on protecting a wild river and its tributaries.
Islands: Carlos Mallo Molina (Canary Islands)
Former civil engineer Carlos Mallo Molina, 36, founded Innoceana to advocate for the protection of the marine ecosystem in the Canary Islands against the proposed construction of Fonsalía Port.
North America: Laurene Allen (United States)
Laurene Allen, a 62-year-old social worker, has campaigned for the closure of the Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics plant in Merrimack, New Hampshire. She continues to advocate for cleanup efforts and the regulation of PFAS, known as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment.
South and Central America: Mari Luz Canaquiri Murayari (Peru)
Mari Luz Canaquiri Murayari, 56, leads the Kukama women’s organization. Her advocacy contributed to a landmark court ruling granting legal personhood to the Marañón River, marking a significant victory for environmental rights in Peru.
Ceremony Details
The 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize winners will be celebrated at a ceremony scheduled for Monday at 5:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time, which will take place in San Francisco and be available via livestream.
