6 Environmental Leaders to Look Out for in 2021

A new generation of environmental leaders are mobilizing the world around climate change, social justice, and economic inequality while we watch in awe. ‘Fridays For Future’ is likely the most known Gen Z climate movement, however, many other grassroots sustainability activists are making big moves in their communities.

Here are six environmental leaders you should look out for in 2021:

What were your hobbies at the age of 13? At that age, Autumn Peltier found herself standing in front of the United Nations committee advocating for clean water. The Anishinaabe Indigenous sustainability activist began her fight for First Nations communities’ right to clean drinking water in Canada when she was only eight years old.

To amplify her voice and impact further, Autumn initiates conversation together with fellow environmental leaders like Greta Thunberg. Both have featured in documentaries about their work and its impact on future generations.

With young activists fighting for climate justice amidst public criticism, and the stress of simply being a teenager, self-care has become a priority for Gen Z environmental leaders.

At only 17 years of age, Isra Hirsi is one of Americas most prominent sustainability activists and the co-founder and co-executive of the US Youth Climate Strike. From uniting organized activism with self-care, to leading marches and TikTok educational entertainment, the daughter of congresswoman Ilhan Omar is determined to change the future towards sustainability innovation. Leading climate strikes, Isra works to ensure that activism is safe for young sustainability advocates of all backgrounds, all while finishing theater classes in high school.

Best known for being the man behind the world’s largest beach clean-up project of Mumbai’s Versova Beach, removing around 30,000kg of plastic in one day, Afroz Shah was named Champion of the Earth by the UN in 2016.

Beach pollution ranges from plastic litter to pesticides and oil and destroys unique habitats used by animals and plants. Afroz is a High Court Lawyer from Mumbai, India, and one of the global environmental leaders dedicated to end plastic waste. He’s been actively working on fighting marine plastic pollution for over 5 and a half years, supporting the removal of 45 million kgs of plastic from beaches and is a huge advocate for keeping plastic in a circular economy.

To reduce waste and avoid new littering, he organizes beach clean-ups and builds educational collaboration with plastic suppliers and local governments.

With communities of color often disproportionally subjected to pollution and less access to healthcare, education about environmental racism globally has become crucial.

Marie Beecham, ‘Waste Free Marie’, is a racial and climate justice advocate. Her work goes beyond the area of most environmental leaders as she pushes for intersectional environmentalism, which is an inclusive version of environmentalism that advocates for both the protection of people and the planet.

It describes the ways in which injustices that happen to marginalized communities and the Earth are interconnected. Watch out for more from Marie and learn how to unite the fight for racial equity and environmental action.

At least half (50-80%) of the oxygen produced on Earth comes from the ocean, mostly from plankton, algae, and bacteria that photosynthesize. Record-breaking freediver Hanli Prinsloo understands this essential connection between the life in and outside of the oceans more than most:

In 2014, Hanli was selected as one of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders in recognition of her contribution to ocean conservation.

The South African athlete, speaker and writer is definitely one of the environmental leaders to look out for in 2021. Hanli founded I Am Water, an ocean conservation trust dedicated to conserving and protecting the world’s oceans through human experience. Much of her work involves educating the next generation on the importance of preserving our marine ecology.

From clean water advocacy in First Nation communities, to wildlife and ocean preservation, these environmental leaders are role-modeling the change coming generations need us to fight for.

Do you know other environmental leaders who can inspire us on our sustainability journey? Share the names we should look out for in 2021 in the comments below.