She Fights for the Earth—But Who Will Fight for Her?

05 Mar 2025

5 Min Read

Ruka Nakamatsu (Student Writer)

IN THIS ARTICLE

From defending forests to protecting oceans, women fighting for environmental justice face countless injustices themselves. It's time we fight for them!

Photo credits: Mongabay Afrique

'Environment activist shot dead outside Nairobi home after death threats'

Joannah Stutchbury was a fierce defender of Kenya's forests, fighting relentlessly against developers who massacred trees to make way for concrete and steel, forcing nature to bear the weight of their greed and ambition. A quick Google search unearths hundreds of similar tragedies—women environmentalists silenced, erased, discarded. And yet, why do we rarely hear about them? Is the fight for environmental justice an unjust one?

While these aren't comfortable questions, they are necessary. If we don't ask them, who will? It's time we #AccelerateAction for gender justice. This International Women's Day, join me in honouring the women who've risked everything for our planet—women who deserve far more than just recognition.

Champions of Change: Women Who Shaped Environmental Movements

The recognition of women in environmental activism is strikingly uneven. Some names are etched into global consciousness—legends like Jane Goodall and Sylvia Earle, whose legacies run so deep that they're impossible to overlook:

Photo credits: What Will It Take

Jane Goodall redefined primatology and conservation. She shattered scientific norms and urged the world towards a more ethical relationship with animals and the environment. Her advocacy transcends research, igniting global movements in wildlife protection and environmental education.

Photo credits: The Guardian

Greta Thunberg sparked a global uprising with a simple yet powerful act—school strikes for climate. Her unapologetic stance forced world leaders to confront the brutal truths of climate change, inspiring millions of young voices to rise and demand action.

Photo credits: National Geographic

Sylvia Earle, the 'Sturgeon General' of the oceans, has dedicated her life to unveiling the mysteries of the deep sea. A trailblazer in marine biology, she has not only shattered glass ceilings in science but also spearheaded efforts to protect the fragile ecosystems beneath the waves.

Meanwhile, many others remain in the shadows. Underrepresented and Indigenous women have been defending their lands, waters, and communities long before mainstream environmentalism took root—often at great personal risk:

Photo credits: The Goldman Environmental Prize

Berta Cáceres, a fearless Indigenous Lenca leader, gave her life defending Honduras' rivers and forests from destructive corporate interests. Her activism became a symbol of unyielding resistance against environmental exploitation.

Photo credits: Universität Zürich

Joan Carling, a lifelong advocate for Indigenous rights from the Philippines, has battled tirelessly to protect ancestral lands, ensuring that the voices of Indigenous communities are heard in global climate discussions.

Photo credits: Malaysiakini

Jannie Lasimbang, rooted in Malaysia's Indigenous struggles, has championed community-led conservation, empowering marginalised groups to reclaim their lands and rights.

Recognised or not, these women are the backbone of the environmental movement, holding the line against destruction with unwavering resolve.

Trials and Triumphs: The Dual Reality of Women in Environmental Activism

For women on the frontlines of environmental activism, courage often comes at a devastating cost. Many face harassment and violence—even death—for daring to protect the planet. Corporate interests silenced Berta Cáceres through assassination after years of her fearless defence of Honduras' rivers. Fikile Ntshangase was gunned down in South Africa for opposing a coal mine expansion. Their murders were meant to silence them, but instead, their legacies have become rallying cries for movements around the world.

Persecution remains a brutal reality. Máxima Acuña, a Peruvian subsistence farmer, has faced relentless harassment and legal battles for standing against a mining project that threatened her home and environment. Patricia Gualinga, a Kichwa leader from Ecuador, has survived death threats and violent attacks for protecting the Amazon. These women stand as symbols of unbreakable defiance, their resilience fortifying grassroots movements even in the face of systemic oppression.

And, of course, heaven forbid women fight for the planet without battling sexism. Female environmentalists endure disproportionate online harassment, gendered hate speech, and vile threats of sexual violence—tools aimed at discrediting and silencing them. The media often paints male environmentalists as heroic saviours while dismissing women as overly emotional or dangerously radical. This perception echoes broader societal biases that undervalue women's leadership, associating their activism with irrationality rather than bravery. Even in recognition, women are sidelined: men outnumber women 7 to 3 in lists of the world's top environmentalists.

Yet, despite these challenging trials, women persist. They break barriers, shift global conversations, and redefine what leadership in environmental justice looks like. Their victories are not just personal triumphs but collective ones—sparks igniting future generations to fight even harder, louder, and more fearlessly for the planet.

Beyond Resistance: The Lasting Impact of Women Environmentalists

The fight for environmental justice is not only about resisting exploitation—it's also about rebuilding systems and empowering communities. Women environmentalists have left enduring legacies, reshaping policies and inspiring future generations to safeguard the planet.

Many female activists have been instrumental in securing policy and legal reforms that protect both people and nature. Indigenous women leaders have led landmark legal victories, defending sacred land and ecosystems from destructive industries. Berta Cáceres' leadership helped halt the Agua Zarca Dam project in Honduras, setting a powerful precedent for Indigenous land rights. Across the globe, women continue to push for climate policies and environmental protections, turning grassroots struggles into lasting change.

Beyond courtrooms and legislative halls, women have also sparked community empowerment and education at the local level. Their advocacy has nurtured new generations of female activists, fostering a more inclusive environmental movement. Programmes initiated by women equip communities with the knowledge and tools to protect their natural resources—often in regions where women bear the brunt of environmental degradation. On a global scale, Greta Thunberg's #FridaysForFuture movement has mobilised millions of young people, proving that women's leadership can ignite transformative change across borders.

The impact of women environmentalists stretches far beyond resistance—it's a blueprint for collective action, where care, resilience, and justice converge to build a more sustainable world.

Conclusion

To view the fight for our planet as gender-neutral would be both naive and dangerously ignorant. Reports consistently show that women—particularly those in vulnerable communities—are disproportionately affected, experiencing the worst of environmental destruction and resource scarcity. Environmental justice and gender justice are not separate struggles—they're inextricably linked, demanding intersectional solutions.

Yet, even as they face the harshest consequences, women continue to lead at the forefront of the fight for a more sustainable future. By standing up to corporate greed and political suppression, they have carved paths for future environmentalists to follow. They are proof that resilience and defiance can spark global change. Their leadership dismantles the myth that environmentalism is a man's fight, placing women's voices at the heart of the movement.

But the fight is far from over. If the future of the planet rests in collective action, then honouring the legacies of women environmental activists isn't optional—it's essential. It's up to us to amplify their voices, challenge oppressive systems, and carry their mission forward.

Justice for the women fighting for our planet starts with you. Begin with our Foundation in Arts programme and progress to the School of Law and Governance to defend them against injustices and demand systemic change.

Ruka Nakamatsu is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) at Taylor's University. A voracious reader with an insatiable curiosity, she constantly delves into diverse topics, always on the lookout for the next great story to write.

BACK TO NEWS & ARTICLES

{{ firstlevel.title }}

{{ firstlevel.title ? firstlevel.title : vm.computedTitle(firstlevel.path) }}

{{ secondlevel.title }}

{{ secondlevel.title }}

{{ secondlevel.title }}

{{ secondlevel.title }}

{{ thirdLevel.title }}