2025 Goldman Environmental Prize Winners Announced in San Francisco

Seven grassroots activists from around the world have been named winners of the 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize, often called the 'Green Nobel Prize,' for their significant efforts to protect the environment amid mounting global challenges. This year's recipients include individuals who led campaigns against illegal waste trafficking between Italy and Tunisia, fought mining in Mongolia's Gobi Desert, and prevented hydroelectric dam construction on Albania's Vjosa River, resulting in the creation of a new national park. In the Canary Islands, an activist successfully halted a port project threatening a marine protected area, while in New England, Laurene Allen campaigned against PFAS contamination, contributing to the closure of a polluting plastics plant. In Peru, Indigenous leader Mari Luz Canaquiri Murayari led a landmark legal battle that granted the Marañón River legal personhood, compelling government action to prevent oil spills. The winners, honored for their determination and hope, were chosen by an international jury from confidential nominations and will be celebrated at a San Francisco ceremony. Their achievements highlight the power of local leadership and resilience in confronting global environmental threats.