Six women have won the 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize, marking the first all-female cohort in the award’s 37-year history.
The recipients — Iroro Tanshi of Nigeria, Borim Kim of South Korea, Sarah Finch of the United Kingdom, Theonila Roka Matbob of Papua Recent Guinea, Alannah Acaq Hurley of the United States and Yuvelis Morales Blanco of Colombia — were honored for grassroots efforts to combat climate change and protect biodiversity.
Each winner receives $200,000, bringing the total prize distribution to $1.2 million for 2026.
Yuvelis Morales Blanco blocked fracking in Colombia after 2018 oil spill
Morales Blanco, 24, led community opposition to commercial fracking in the Magdalena River basin following a major oil spill that displaced dozens of families and killed thousands of animals.
Her activism, which included protests and public education, helped halt projects and brought fracking into national debate during Colombia’s 2022 election.
She grew up in Puerto Wilches, an Afro-Colombian fishing community where she said the river “was like a mother who took care of me.”
Borim Kim won South Korea’s first youth-led climate rights ruling
Kim, founder of Youth 4 Climate Action, secured a Constitutional Court decision that the government’s climate policy violated the rights of future generations.
The ruling represents the first successful youth-led climate litigation in Asia.
Her organization advocates for stronger emissions reductions and intergenerational justice in national policy.
Sarah Finch will use prize money to continue anti-fossil fuel work in the UK
Finch told The Times she plans to direct her $200,000 award toward ongoing campaigns against fossil fuel expansion in Europe.
Her work focuses on holding corporations and governments accountable for pollution and climate impacts.
Like Kim and Morales Blanco, Finch’s activism centers on challenging fossil fuel infrastructure and policy.
What is the Goldman Environmental Prize?
The Goldman Environmental Prize, often called the “Green Nobel,” is awarded annually to grassroots environmental activists from each of the world’s six inhabited regions.
Established in 1989 by Richard and Rhoda Goldman, it recognizes individuals who take significant personal risks to protect the environment.
Why is the 2026 winner cohort historically significant?
This year marks the first time since the prize’s inception that all six recipients are women, highlighting the growing leadership of female activists in global environmental movements.
The winners represent diverse geographic and ecological contexts, from riverine communities in Colombia to urban youth movements in South Korea.