Nigerian environmental campaigner Nnimmo Bassey has joined five other advocates from different parts of the world in receiving international recognition for their efforts to protect vulnerable communities, defend ecosystems and promote environmental justice amid mounting ecological and climate challenges.
The six were named recipients of the Courageous Scientists Award for Environmental and Climate Justice, an initiative established to recognise individuals who continue to challenge environmental destruction despite personal risks, political pressure and opposition.
The award ceremony took place on October 13 at the Porgy & Bess Jazz Club in Vienna, Austria. The initiative was established by Austrian architectural historian Norbert Mayr and is funded by the Forum for Eco-Social Transformations in Vienna.
Bassey Dedicates Recognition to Polluted Communities
Bassey, executive director of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), was recognised for his longstanding advocacy on environmental protection, human rights and the consequences of oil extraction, particularly in Nigeria’s Niger Delta.
His work has drawn attention to the impact of pollution on local communities, including damage to livelihoods and ecosystems, and the need to hold those responsible for environmental harm accountable.
Reacting to the recognition, Bassey said the award represented the experiences of communities that have endured severe pollution while continuing to demand environmental justice.
He dedicated the honour to the affected communities, emphasising that their resilience and struggles deserved recognition beyond the individual receiving the award.
Global Advocates Recognised
The other recipients represent a range of environmental and community-based campaigns across several countries.
They include Ana Laide Soares Barbosa of Brazil, whose work with the Movimento Xingu Vivo para Sempre movement focuses on protecting rivers, forests and Indigenous territories threatened by large development projects.
Japan’s Akino Miyagi was recognised for drawing attention to the environmental consequences of United States military bases, despite facing pressure over the advocacy.
Dr Malik Oedin of New Caledonia received recognition for his biodiversity conservation efforts and work with local communities through the organisation Gardiens Des Îles.
Seble Samue of Ethiopia was also honoured for promoting public spaces, traditional ecological practices and community participation in shaping urban environments.
The late Honduran environmental defender Berta Cáceres was included among the recognised figures for her resistance to projects threatening Indigenous communities and their territories. Cáceres was assassinated in 2016.
Courage in the Face of Environmental Destruction
According to the award’s founder, the initiative was created to make visible the efforts of people who defend nature and communities despite difficult circumstances.
Mayr said environmental defenders around the world continued to challenge destructive activities even when doing so exposed them to serious risks.
A member of the award jury, Michael Staudinger, also highlighted the importance of combining scientific evidence with Indigenous and local knowledge in addressing environmental challenges.
He noted that the recipients’ experiences demonstrated the value of sustained commitment and cooperation between communities and wider networks working for environmental protection.
Renewed Focus on Environmental Justice
The recognition comes as communities across different regions face environmental pressures linked to pollution, habitat destruction, biodiversity loss and climate change.
In Nigeria, the Niger Delta remains a major focus of environmental advocacy because of the longstanding consequences of oil exploration and production for host communities.
Campaigners have continued to call for effective pollution control, rehabilitation of damaged environments, protection of community rights and greater accountability from institutions and businesses whose activities affect ecosystems.
For Bassey, the award offers an opportunity to draw further international attention to these concerns and to the people living with the consequences of environmental degradation.
The recognition also underscores the role of community-led action, scientific research and cooperation in efforts to protect the environment and secure a more sustainable future.
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