Meet the six women who made history by winning the ‘Green Oscars’ for environmental activism
Image: Goldman Environmental Foundation Six women who won and why the 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize became a landmark moment 1. Iroro Tanshi (Nigeria) Image: Goldman
Image: Goldman Environmental Foundation Six women who won and why the 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize became a landmark moment 1. Iroro Tanshi (Nigeria) Image: Goldman Environmental Foundation 2. Borim Kim (South Korea) Image: Goldman Environmental Foundation 3. Sarah Finch (United Kingdom) Image: Goldman Environmental Foundation 4. Theonila Roka Matbob (Papua New Guinea) Image: Goldman Environmental Foundation 5. Alannah Acaq Hurley (United States) Image: Goldman Environmental Foundation 6. Yuvelis Morales Blanco (Colombia) Image: Goldman Environmental Foundation For more than three decades, the Goldman Environmental Prize has honoured ordinary people taking extraordinary action to protect the planet. Often referred to as the "Green Oscar" or the "Green Nobel", the award recognises grassroots environmental leaders whose campaigns have changed laws, protected ecosystems and defended vulnerable communities. In 2026, the prize reached a historic milestone. For the first time since its founding in 1989, all six recipients were women. Their victories spanned six regions of the world and addressed some of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time, from climate litigation and endangered species conservation to Indigenous rights and opposition to destructive mining projects.
Together, these women demonstrated how local action can create global impact, inspiring a new generation of environmental leadership.According to the Goldman Environmental Foundation, the 2026 recipients were selected from six regions of the world for their extraordinary grassroots achievements. It marked the first all-women cohort in the prize's 37-year history.A conservation scientist, Tanshi led efforts to protect the endangered short-tailed roundleaf bat in Nigeria's Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary. After identifying human-caused wildfires as the species' greatest threat, she organised community fire brigades that successfully prevented major fires across the sanctuary.The Goldman Environmental Foundation stated:"She and her community fire brigades prevented any serious wildfires from occurring in and around the sanctuary."She has been an advocate in the field of youth climate litigation. With her efforts, a groundbreaking constitutional ruling was obtained, which enhanced climate responsibility and brought the rights of future generations affected by climate change into focus.She made headlines after her victory in a groundbreaking lawsuit challenging the climate impacts of the approval of fossil fuel projects in the United Kingdom.Her efforts in establishing a groundbreaking legal precedent have earned her the Goldman Environmental Prize.She was fighting against environmental destruction associated with mining activities in Papua New Guinea.
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