Riccardo Liguori Women of all ages and backgrounds fought for the climate in 2024, achieving historic legal victories and leading the ecological transition. Let's find out who the unsung heroines of the year are
@Greenpeace Switzerland
In 2024, the climate struggle is being fought with thousands of women around the world on the front lines-from courtrooms to the Amazon. These are just a few Indigenous leaders, activists, lawyers, scientists, and politicians who have made huge contributions toward safeguarding the future of the planet. This series showcases their battles and victories in inspiring millions: ten such unsung heroines the media tends to ignore.
Nemonte Nenquimo: saving the Amazon
In Ecuador, Nemonte Nenquimo-a cofounder of Amazon Frontlines and the Ceibo Alliance, Waorani Indigenous people-continued an unrelenting struggle in the fight to protect the Amazon rainforest. In 2024, she took her community all the way to a historic legal victory against the government of Ecuador to protect 1.2 million acres of rainforest from oil extraction. She is, from the very heart of her grass-roots politics, one of the world’s leading environmentalists-a grassroots campaigner who speaks personally for land rights and biodiversity and unites Indigenous communities and international activists.
An organization she cofounded, Amazon Frontlines, won the prestigious Hilton Humanitarian Prize to protect the Amazon and its inhabitants.
KlimaSeniorinnen: Swiss grandmothers win a landmark case
In Switzerland, a group of activist grandmothers called KlimaSeniorinnen won an unprecedented victory at the European Court of Human Rights. A group of women, averaging 73 years of age, sued the Swiss government for not doing enough to cut greenhouse gas emissions and protect public health, especially for older people who are more susceptible to climate change. The court ordered that the government is obliged to protect the basic rights of its citizens, including the right to health and a safe environment. This ruling sets a critical precedent for climate lawsuits in Europe and beyond, after years of legal battles that other groups had failed to win.
Rikki Held: a young leader in climate litigation
In the United States, 22-year-old Rikki Held was leading-until her death recently-a legal battle against the state of Montana for violating the constitutional right to a healthy environment. Growing up on a 17,000-acre ranch, Rikki has witnessed how the impacts of climate change-such as droughts, wildfires, and floods-have ravaged families like hers. She took the case to court with 15 other young activists, charging that the state’s fossil fuel-friendly policies put future generations in jeopardy. The Montana Supreme Court took the side of the youngsters by ordering the government to revise its energy policies with a view to climatic impact. Personal experience and passion for science have turned Rikki into a symbol of youth-led climate action.
Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo: first woman president of Mexico, with a green agenda
In Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo was elected president and became the first woman president in the history of the country. With a Ph.D. in energy engineering, Sheinbaum has deep roots in environmental leadership. As mayor of Mexico City, she had promoted ambitious policies in the reduction of air pollution by increasing mobility with public transportation and greening spaces. She has pledged that, as president, she will prioritize sustainability in her administration: investing in renewables, efficiency, and biodiversity protection. Her election is a big deal for women in leadership roles in Latin America and a beacon of hope in terms of climate action.
Tessa Khan: taking on fossil fuel expansion in the UK
Lawyer Tessa Khan, from the United Kingdom, took its government to court for approving new extraction projects for oil and gas in the North Sea, which include the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields. The founder of the organization Uplift claims such projects-by companies like Equinor and Ithaca Energy-fail to account for their environmental impact, further worsening the climate crisis. Her current case is against those extraction projects for a just transition toward a sustainable economy for the UK’s coastal communities. Khan is considered one of the leading voices in the climate justice movement because of her fight for freedom to protest and for accountability by governments.
Marina Silva: leading Brazil’s environmental policy
Marina Silva, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, has taken center stage regarding efforts against deforestation in the Amazon and protection of biodiversity. This minister’s return to the portfolio-after years away from political power-was reason for celebration among environmentalists who view her as an important player in the protection of the Amazon and combating climate change.
Anne Hidalgo: making Paris greener
Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, has maintained a relentless pace of ambitious policies that have made the French capital more sustainable and resilient to the consequences of climate change. Her main initiatives include bike lanes expansion, promotion of public transportation, reduction of car traffic, and creation of green spaces. Hidalgo is an example of female leadership in local climate action.
Roseline Isata Mansaray: a youth activist in Sierra Leone
Roseline Isata Mansaray is the initiator of the Fridays for Future movement in Sierra Leone and a young activist fighting for climate justice in her country. She was born in a small flood-prone, wildfire-prone, and drought-prone village. Roseline raises her voice on behalf of her community, calling for concrete actions to be taken towards the ecological crisis. She’s an inspiration of dedication and determination to young people all over the world.
Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh: the climate justice warrior in Court
Professor of environmental law at the University of the South Pacific, Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh, has just made history by representing the island nation of Vanuatu in the most significant climate case ever brought before the International Court of Justice. The goal of this case is to establish a legal framework for climate accountability, helping vulnerable nations combat the devastating impacts of global warming. Equipped with a legal degree and driven by climate justice, Wewerinke-Singh is one of the active co-drivers toward the pursuit of sustainability.
Tori Tsui: confronting eco-anxiety through activism
Tori Tsui, a young climate activist from Hong Kong, published a book entitled “It’s Not Just You“, which addresses eco-anxiety or the heavy feeling of worry about how much destruction people have been causing the planet due to human activity and climate change. The book, highly praised by Greta Thunberg, provides support for young activists feeling overwhelmed by the climate crisis and encourages them to continue fighting for a better future.
