Environmental sustainability is everybody’s business. When more personalities take the lead in responsibly managing the planet’s resources to meet present and future needs, the cause becomes more relatable and encouraging.

Athletes, for example, can be perfect advocates in promoting the importance of both physical and mental health. When celebrities support and foster awareness about an illness and the quest for its cure, the groups involved gain more attention and funding. When female eco-warriors draw attention to the pressing issues surrounding the planet’s plight, they can empower communities as daughters, mothers, sisters, aunts, friends, and icons in different fields.

In celebration of Women’s Month, we are honoring women who have made or continue to make noise and instigate action to promote sustainability. Their diverse backgrounds demonstrate that caring for the planet is for anyone and everyone, regardless of age or role in society. Through the unique perspectives they bring, audiences are drawn to the real state of the planet, the worrying impact on quality of life if action is not taken, and the future risks that generations may face. We salute these women who are changemakers and role models.

After living among the poorest of the poor in Africa, Gina Lopez returned to the Philippines with a mission. The philanthropist focused on many causes, including the protection of the environment. She established Bantay Kalikasan in 1997 to advocate environmental rehabilitation. Under the late environmentalist’s leadership, the group successfully rehabilitated the Pasig River and reforested the La Mesa Watershed.

Lopez maximized every role given to her, whether as chairperson of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission or as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). During her time in government, she bravely exposed violators in the country’s mining industry, advocated for the rights of Indigenous people in affected areas, and called for the promotion of renewable energy.

Lopez was the first Filipino to be recognized with the prestigious Seacology Prize for her achievements in cultural and environmental preservation. She was also honored by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) with the Kalinga Prize for her efforts in educating children through the television program “Sineskwela.”

Gina Lopez died on Aug. 19, 2019, but she left a lasting legacy of environmental stewardship, social justice, and fearless advocacy that continues to inspire Filipinos today.

When the world mourned the passing of British anthropologist and primatologist Jane Goodall on Oct. 1, 2025, tributes poured in for her exceptional work in conservation. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) recognized Goodall for how she “revolutionized our understanding of our closest primate cousins (chimpanzees)” and for her lifelong commitment to protecting nature.

In an article by Victoria Gill, Goodall’s efforts in habitat restoration were cited among her many contributions to the planet’s welfare. Throughout her life, she wrote books and established and led foundations and groups that strengthened the fight against the climate and biodiversity crisis. Stevie Nicks’ 1990 song “Jane” was inspired by Goodall’s life and mission, with lyrics that specifically mention chimpanzees and how she had “done so much for the world.”

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg began calling attention to climate change when she was just 15 years old. She staged a solo school strike in front of the Swedish Parliament to demand stronger climate action.

This led to Fridays for Future, a global youth movement in which students demonstrate and call for action on climate-related causes such as renewable energy and emissions reduction. The magnitude of support for her advocacy gave rise to the term “Greta effect,” referring to the influence she has had in engaging people globally on environmental issues.

Thunberg addressed the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2018, declaring that world leaders were “not mature enough to tell it like it is.” She remains active in international forums, demonstrations, and campaigns related to climate action and human rights.

Anna Oposa explored different callings as a writer and performing artist, but her passion for protecting marine life led her to focus on environmental advocacy. The Filipino marine conservationist co-founded the non-governmental organization Save Philippine Seas in 2011 to promote the conservation of the country’s coastal and marine resources through collective action and behavior change.

Oposa further advanced her advocacy by launching the Shark Shelter Project in 2012 to protect thresher sharks in Daanbantayan, Cebu. She also established the Sea and Earth Advocates Camp in 2015, which provides environmental education and leadership programs aimed at empowering the youth in marine conservation.