Meet the 2022 Goldman Environmental Prize Winners: Grassroots Heroes for the Planet
Celebrating the inspiring stories of environmental champions from six continents honored with the 2022 Goldman Environmental Prize.
Each year, the Goldman Environmental Prize shines a spotlight on unsung grassroots leaders taking bold, often life-risking actions to safeguard the environment. Known as the “Green Nobel Prize,” this prestigious international honor recognizes one activist from each of six continental regions, celebrating their extraordinary achievements and amplifying their urgent causes. In 2022, the winners ranged from Indigenous forest defenders to youth organizers, all united by their relentless pursuit of environmental justice.
About the Goldman Environmental Prize
The Goldman Environmental Prize was founded in 1989 by philanthropists Rhoda and Richard Goldman to recognize the critical yet often overlooked work of grassroots activists. By highlighting stories of courage, resistance, and hope, the prize serves as a powerful catalyst for environmental change, inspiring global action and drawing attention to local movements making a worldwide impact.
- Awarded annually to six recipients from each inhabited continent
- Celebrates those who risk personal and professional safety to defend the earth
- Encourages governments and the public to support grassroots environmentalism
The 2022 Prize: Overview and Ceremony
The 33rd Goldman Environmental Prize ceremony was held virtually on May 25, 2022. It brought together a blend of inspiration and celebrity, featuring appearances by Jane Fonda (host), Sigourney Weaver (narrator), Dr. Jane Goodall, and musical performances by Angélique Kidjo and the Detroit Youth Choir. The ceremony honored six courageous winners whose stories not only highlight the scale of environmental challenges but also demonstrate hope and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Who are the 2022 Winners?
The 2022 Goldman Environmental Prize recognized the following outstanding individuals and campaigns:
- Alex Lucitante and Alexandra Narvaez (Ecuador): Indigenous leaders defending ancestral Amazonian rainforest from gold mining.
- Chima Williams (Nigeria): A legal advocate ensuring corporate accountability for oil pollution in the Niger Delta.
- Julien Vincent (Australia): A campaigner who led efforts to defund coal in Australia, spurring a corporate shift away from fossil fuels.
- Marjan Minnesma (Netherlands): Climate activist who won a landmark lawsuit forcing her government to set stronger climate targets.
- Nalleli Cobo (United States): Youth leader who organized her community against oil drilling in Los Angeles, protecting public health.
- Niwat Roykaew (Thailand): Educator who safeguarded the Mekong River from industrial dredging and blasting projects.
The Winners and Their Stories
Alex Lucitante and Alexandra Narvaez (Ecuador)
Region: South and Central America
Cause: Protection of Indigenous territories and rainforests
Achievement: Stopped illegal gold mining in the Cofan ancestral land
Deep in Ecuador’s Amazon, Alex Lucitante and Alexandra Narvaez, members of the Indigenous Cofán community, led a years-long campaign to protect over 79,000 acres of their people’s ancestral territory. After learning about secretive government permits issued for gold mining, the duo mobilized legal actions, grassroots organizing, and global advocacy. In a landmark 2018 court ruling, their ancestral rights were upheld and mining concessions revoked, creating a precedent for Indigenous land protection across the region.
- Mobilized the Cofán youth and elders to document illegal mining operations using GPS and drones
- Secured a constitutional court win recognizing the rights of the Cofán people
- Inspired other Amazonian nationalities to defend their homelands against extractive threats
Chima Williams (Nigeria)
Region: Africa
Cause: Corporate accountability for oil pollution
Achievement: Legal victories holding Shell accountable for Niger Delta spills
For decades, residents of Nigeria’s Niger Delta have battled the devastation caused by persistent oil pollution. Chima Williams, an environmental lawyer, championed the affected communities in the courts—most notably securing a historic ruling against Royal Dutch Shell, compelling them to take responsibility and remediate decades-old environmental harm. His relentless dedication empowered vulnerable populations and set important precedents for multinational liability.
What others are reading
- Represented communities suffering from contaminated land, destroyed livelihoods, and health crises
- Achieved a 2021 verdict in a Dutch court holding the parent company liable—an unprecedented move in international law
- Advocated for transparency, remediation, and justice for the Niger Delta
Julien Vincent (Australia)
Region: Islands & Island Nations
Cause: Shifting finance away from coal
Achievement: Persuaded major Australian banks and insurers to drop coal investments
Recognizing the fossil fuel industry’s dependence on financial backing, Julien Vincent founded Market Forces to pressure institutions to stop funding coal. Through coordinated campaigns, high-impact research, and shareholder activism, he and his team drove the country’s major banks and insurers to announce major coal exit policies, weakening the industry’s prospects. Vincent’s work is a testament to the power of targeting the financial systems fueling the climate crisis.
- Organized grassroots and investor campaigns to pressure banks via public petitions, AGMs, and social media
- Prompted four major banks to commit to ending coal lending by 2030
- Shifted the narrative in Australian corporate and public spheres about fossil finance
Marjan Minnesma (Netherlands)
Region: Europe
Cause: Climate litigation and national accountability
Achievement: Won a court case requiring the Dutch government to cut carbon emissions
In the landmark Urgenda v. State of the Netherlands case, Marjan Minnesma successfully argued that the Dutch government’s climate policies endangered citizens’ rights. The Dutch Supreme Court upheld the suit, mandating the government to cut emissions by 25% by 2020, setting a global example for climate accountability. Her victory demonstrated how legal systems can be used to drive governmental climate action.
- Led Urgenda Foundation in innovative legal action—first of its kind globally
- Mobilized public support, advocacy, and education to spur political will for compliance
- Inspired similar lawsuits in Germany, Belgium, France, and around the world
Nalleli Cobo (United States)
Region: North America
Cause: Environmental justice and health in urban communities
Achievement: Led a successful campaign to shut down toxic oil drilling in Los Angeles
Growing up near an oil well in South Los Angeles, Nalleli Cobo experienced severe health problems linked to drilling pollution. At just nine years old, she began organizing neighbors, testifying at public hearings, and co-founding People Not Pozos (People Not Oil Wells). Her leadership led to the permanent closure of a dangerous drilling site in her community, advancing environmental justice and inspiring urban activism nationwide.
- Spearheaded youth-driven advocacy for clean air and healthy neighborhoods
- Became a symbol for frontline communities fighting toxic industry in their backyards
- Named to the TIME 100 Next Leaders list for her activism
Niwat Roykaew (Thailand)
Region: Asia
Cause: Protecting rivers from industrial development
Achievement: Prevented an international project from blasting the Mekong River
Niwat Roykaew, affectionately known as “Kru Thi,” is a retired teacher and river guardian in northern Thailand. As head of the advocacy group Rak Chiang Khong, he rallied local fishermen, scientists, civil society, and authorities to resist a Chinese-led plan to blast and dredge the Upper Mekong for commercial navigation. After years of community resistance, the Thai government canceled the project, avoiding immense ecological and social damage.
- Mobilized a grassroots network spanning villages, civil society, and researchers
- Provided educational programming on river stewardship for youth
- Won a rare government reversal on a large cross-border infrastructure project
Award Ceremony Highlights
- The virtual event lifted winner stories to a global audience
- Featured celebrity guest Jane Fonda and conservation icons like Dr. Jane Goodall
- Musical performances celebrated the rich cultural diversity of the participants
| Name(s) | Country | Region | Main Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Lucitante & Alexandra Narvaez | Ecuador | South & Central America | Protected ancestral rainforest from gold mining |
| Chima Williams | Nigeria | Africa | Held Shell accountable for oil spills in the Niger Delta |
| Julien Vincent | Australia | Islands & Island Nations | Won coal divestment commitments from major banks |
| Marjan Minnesma | Netherlands | Europe | Forced stronger government action on climate change |
| Nalleli Cobo | United States | North America | Closed urban oil drilling site, championed health justice |
| Niwat Roykaew | Thailand | Asia | Protected the Mekong River from destructive blasting |
Why Grassroots Activism Matters
The 2022 winners are living proof that dedicated individuals can drive systemic change, even against formidable odds. Their work shows that:
- Local voices are critical: Frontline communities understand their environments best and are often most affected by ecological harm.
- Collective action transcends borders: From legal victories to mass mobilizations, these activists built broad alliances for global impact.
- Youth and Indigenous leadership is rising: Young leaders and Indigenous defenders are increasingly at the forefront of the environmental movement.
- Persistence pays off: Success often takes years of unwavering effort amid setbacks, threats, and intimidation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Goldman Environmental Prize?
It is the world’s foremost award for grassroots environmental activists, annually recognizing six individuals—one from each inhabited continental region—for their extraordinary efforts in protecting the natural world.
How are winners selected?
Winners are chosen after an extensive nomination and vetting process involving environmental experts, past laureates, and regional monitoring networks. The prize spotlights those whose work demonstrates significant environmental impact, creativity, and often personal risk.
Why focus on grassroots activism?
Grassroots leaders are uniquely positioned to drive lasting change within their communities and frequently serve as catalysts that inspire broader policy change, public mobilization, and global attention.
Can anyone be nominated?
Yes, but nominations must be submitted through a confidential process and meet strict criteria emphasizing local impact, leadership, and replicability of success.
What impact do past winners have?
Goldman Environmental Prize laureates have gone on to win global recognition, influence environmental policy, and serve as tireless advocates for nature—demonstrating the ripple effect of local activism worldwide.
Legacy and Inspiration
The stories of the 2022 Goldman Environmental Prize winners offer a beacon of hope in an age of ecological crisis. Their victories are not just personal milestones; they are reminders that protection of the planet’s forests, rivers, atmosphere, and communities depends on courageous individuals, collective solidarity, and the unwavering pursuit of justice.
- Each laureate’s journey encourages others to speak out and act, no matter the odds.
- The impact of these achievements reverberates through policy, culture, and international awareness, proving one person truly can make a world of difference.
References
- https://news.mongabay.com/2022/05/meet-the-2022-goldman-environmental-prize-winners/
- https://www.goldmanprize.org/blog/five-highlights-from-the-2022-goldman-environmental-prize/
- https://www.goldmanprize.org/all-winners/
- https://www.goldmanprize.org
- https://www.goldmanprize.org/meet-the-winners/
- https://www.goldmanprize.org/blog/introducing-the-2022-goldman-environmental-prize-winners/
Similar Articles
Read full bio of medha deb
