Women Environmental Activists

Legal consultant, environmental activist, and consumer activist Erin Brockovich is known for suing California-based Pacific Gas & Electric Company, alleging them of contamination of water with hexavelent chromium, in 1993. Her story inspired the Julia Roberts-starrer 2000 movie Erin Brockovich. She has written two books and hosted TV shows, too.

Wangari Maathai was a Kenyan environmental, social, and political activist. She achieved popularity after becoming the first African woman to be honored with the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. She is credited with founding a non-governmental organization called The Green Belt Movement (GBM), which focuses on women's rights and environmental conservation.

Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg is known for her straightforward speaking manner in which she addresses world leaders for failing to take sufficient action regarding the climate change issue. She is considered a youth icon for starting the movement Fridays for Future. She has been included in Time magazine's 100 most influential people list.

Laurie David is an American environmental activist best known for producing An Inconvenient Truth, a documentary film that has been credited for reenergizing the environmental movement and raising public awareness on global warming. In 2003, she was honored with the Children's Nature Institute's Leaf Award for her efforts to educate young children about our environment.

Isra Hirsi is an American environmental activist best known for co-founding the U.S. Youth Climate Strike, where she also serves as co-executive director. A self-described communist, Isra Hirsi was named in Fortune magazine's 40 Under 40 list in 2020.

Philippine environmental activist and philanthropist Gina Lopez is remembered for her relentless fight against hazardous and destructive mining practices. She had led the ABS-CBN Foundation and had chaired the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission. She had also served as the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources of the Philippines.

Canadian activist Severn Cullis-Suzuki is known for her fight for environmental issues and intergenerational justice. Born to environmentalist David Suzuki, she began her journey as an environmental activist in fifth grade. She was also honored in the UNEP’s Global 500 Roll of Honour and supports the Slow movement.

Medha Patkar is an Indian social activist known for her work concerning several issues raised by farmers, tribes, women, and laborers facing injustice in India. She is also known for popularizing the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) movement which opposes the construction of large dams across the Narmada River. Medha Patkar is the recipient of many awards including the Mother Teresa Award.

German climate activist Luisa Neubauer is known for starting the campaign Fridays for Future, which began as a school strike for climate change awareness, with other activists such as Greta Thunberg. Her efforts include discussions with government heads and her participation at the UN Climate Conference.

Judith Wright was an Australian environmentalist, poet, and campaigner for Indigenous land rights. Wright is credited with founding one of the earliest environmental conservation movements in Australia. Best remembered for her poetry skills, Judith Wright won the prestigious Christopher Brennan Award in 1976. In 1991, she was honored with the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry.

Sheherazade Goldsmith is known for her pioneering a venture of concept jewelry, Loquet London, which offers customized pendants. She has been a columnist for publications such as The Sunday Times and has also penned books. An environmental activist and philanthropist, too, she once owned an organic food business.

Born to Italian writer Cino Boccazzi, Kuki Gallmann later moved to Kenya with her husband and son, both of whom she lost in separate accidents. Taking up Kenyan citizenship, she focused on ecological conservation. He bestselling book I Dreamed Of Africa was later made into a movie.

Celine Cousteau is a public figure and socio-environmental advocate. She is renowned for her work as an explorer, documentary filmmaker, artist, public speaker, designer, and brand ambassador. Céline Cousteau is credited with founding CauseCentric Productions, which produces multi-media content.

Elizabeth Lejonhjärta is a Swedish model, writer, blogger, and social media personality. Elizabeth and her twin sister Victoria Lejonhjärta achieved international fame when they collaborated with popular Canadian rapper Drake for his 2016 album Views. Popularly known as the it girls in Sweden, Elizabeth and Victoria Lejonhjärta have modeled for brands like Calvin Klein, Nike, Chanel, and Max Factor.

Environmental-conservationist Jecca Craig, presently completing a doctorate at University College London, helped in founding the largest wildcat-conservation-organization of the world called Panthera; and the independent NGO Stop Ivory that aims in protecting elephant and stopping ivory trade. Jecca’s father Ian Craig founded Ngare Sergoi Rhino Sanctuary on the Craigs’ family land, and later Lewa Wildlife Conservancy incorporating the original sanctuary.

Raised by coffee farmer parents in British East Africa, Elspeth Huxley grew up to be a prominent author, known for her lyrical books such as The Flame Trees of Thika, depicting her life in British Kenya. She was also a BBC broadcaster, a magistrate, and an environmental activist.

Livia Giuggioli, the former wife of Academy Award-winning actor Colin Firth, made headlines when she split with Firth, over her alleged affair with Marco Brancaccia. Livia apparently tried covering up the affair by claiming Brancaccia was a stalker. She had first met Giuggioli while working as a production assistant.