Committed environmental activist, Chibeze Ezekiel, 40, wins the 2020 Goldman Environmental Prize. An award that honours committed grassroots environmental activists.
Chibeze has been working tirelessly with the government and the communities in tackling environmental issues affecting lives and the climate.
He is the founder of Strategic Youth Network for Development, an NGO that addresses environmental and social change in Ghana with youth at the centre of focus. Chibeze is also the national coordinator of 350 Ghana Reducing Our Carbon (350 GROC), an affiliate of the environmental NGO 350.org.
A key achievement of Chibeze was his constant fight against the Ghana government in establishing a 700-megawatt (MW) coal power plant at Ekumfi and adjoining shipping port to import coal. His four-year campaign resulted in the Minister of Environment relinquishing the coal power plant in Ghana.
“We at 350 are in awe of Chibeze’s achievements. His work pushing for a sustainable, resilient, and coal-free Ghana is admirable, more than deserves the global recognition it has just received. The climate crisis requires us to interrogate the key drivers of climate change, especially the negative effects of the fossil fuels industry. People like Chibeze, who organise and motivate grassroots movements seeking to bring lasting solutions to the climate crisis, are our true climate leaders and are instrumental to this fight. We honour their dedication and commitment to the planet”, the Executive Director of 350 Ghana, May Boeye said.
The Africa Team Leader, Landry Ninteretse also stated that the African youth have been calling for climate justice that would see a transition from fossil fuels and building climate-resilient economies powered by renewables. This is exactly what Chibeze and the G-ROC team have been fighting for.
Other Africans who won the 2020 Goldman Environmental Prize awards are Wangari Maathai, renowned Kenyan social, environmental, and political activist; South African activists Makoma Lekalakala and Liz McDaid; and Ken Saro-Wiwa, a Nigerian writer who fought for environmental justice and human rights.
Follow Us
Renate is a lawyer, publicist, and writer. She believes that education and information is the key to developing and shaping Africa. In her free time, she paints beautiful art pieces on canvas. Renate believes that life is a perception, and you live it the way you perceive it.
