Good News: Issue 1
Celebrating environmental activists and innovators around the world
Just in time for Earth Day, several organizations have announced awards for environmental activists and innovators around the world. The list may be long, but that’s a good thing — the more environmental champions the better! I hope you are as inspired by their work as I am.
Goldman Prize Honours Environmental Heroes
The 2025 Goldman Environmental Prize recognized grassroots activists worldwide for combating environmental degradation and corruption. Founded in 1989 by philanthropists Richard and Rhoda Goldman, prizes are awarded to environmental heroes from roughly the world’s six inhabited continental regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands & Island Nations, North America, and South & Central America. This year’s recipients are:
Semia Gharbi (Tunisia): Exposed illegal waste dumping, leading to arrests and policy reforms.
Carlos Mallo Molina (Spain): Prevented the construction of a damaging port in the Canary Islands.
Laurene Allen (USA): Fought against PFAS chemical pollution in New Hampshire.
Besjana Guri & Olsi Nika (Albania): Successfully campaigned to protect the Vjosa River, resulting in Europe's first wild river national park.
Mari Luz Canaquiri Murayari (Peru): Led a legal battle granting the Marañón River legal personhood.
Batmunkh Luvsandash (Mongolia): Championed the protection of 200,000 acres of desert from mining at the age of 81.
Earth Prize Awarded to Teens Worldwide
The Earth Prize is an environmental sustainability competition open to teenage students worldwide. Organized by the Earth Foundation in Switzerland, the competition recognizes and awards students who develop innovative solutions to accelerate positive change towards environmental sustainability. Here are the 2025 winners:
Amara Nwuneli (Nigeria): transformed a dumpsite in Ikota, Lagos, into an eco-park. With a playground built from recycled materials, the park is an urban oasis where people can reconnect with nature, foster community, and learn about sustainability.
Anna Podmanická and Tomáš Čermák (Slovakia & Czechia): invented a wastewater treatment system that combines photocatalysis (using light to break down pollutants) with cold plasma technology to destroy contaminants and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Anthony, Flint and James (New York): invented Kiriboard: sustainable packaging made of recycled cardboard. Inspired by Kirigami, the Japanese art of paper cutting, cardboard is scored and folded into a flexible, shock-absorbing structure. Kiriboard eliminates the need for plastic or styrofoam packing materials, and its lightweight design results in lower shipping emissions.
Almaha, Fatma, Israa and Jourey (United Arab Emirates): created EcoMind Academy, an AI-driven platform that uses gamified challenges and virtual assistants to make recycling education interactive, personalized, and action-driven.
Hailey and Yume (Philippines): developed Kultibado, a web app that connects farmers directly with consumers and food coops. By removing price-controlling middlemen, Kultibado helps farmers minimize food waste and methane emissions, earn fairer prices, and sell produce to consumers for up to 72% less than market prices.
Dhruv, Mithran and Mridul (India): invented the Thermavault, an electricity-free fridge that uses salt and water to stay cool. Because the Thermavault can preserve food, medicine, and vaccines without using electricity — or producing waste — it’s an ideal solution for off-grid living, disaster preparedness, and rural communities that lack access to power.
Isaque Carvalho Borges (Brazil): developed a technology that uses AI, satellites and data analysis to analyze urbanization patterns, predict areas of heat island formation, and pinpoint the most effective locations for planting vegetation to cool cities. This enables targeted green interventions that reduce heat, purify air, and enhance livability.
TIME Magazine’s Earth Awards Recognize Climate Advocates
This year marks TIME’s third annual Earth Awards, which recognizes individuals whose actions have made an impact on global efforts to combat climate change. This year’s winners are:
Catherine Coleman Flowers (U.S.): An environmental justice advocate from Lowndes County, Georgia, Flowers is known for exposing the region’s sewage crisis, which exposes rural communities to untreated waste. She continues to advocate for marginalized communities in the Black Belt and rural America.
Jay Inslee (U.S.): Governor of Washington from 2013 to 2025, Inslee is a climate action leader who co-founded the U.S. Climate Alliance and brought together two dozen states to to work towards a clean economy.
Michael Bloomberg (U.S.): Former New York Mayor and U.N. Special Envoy, Bloomberg is dedicated to climate solutions. In January, when President Trump announced the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris Agreement, Bloomberg Philanthropies coordinated an effort to continue funding the country’s climate goals.
Selassie Atadika (Ghana): A chef in Ghana, Atadika founded Midunu, an experimental restaurant that highlights the region’s culinary heritage and uses food to advocate for sustainable agriculture.
Yours for the Greener Good,
Brett