Whether you are a new or seasoned environmentalist or sustainable living enthusiast, it can be helpful to look to others for ideas, hope, and inspiration. These individuals are carving their own space in the realm of environmental advocacy, sustainability, waste management, and climate awareness.
Kathryn Kellogg
Kathryn Kellogg is an actor, author, environmentalist, blogger, influencer, and climate activist. Her blog, Going Zero Waste, receives hundreds of thousands of hits every month. The blog is a hub for learning more about how to reduce your waste at home and on the go, sustainable switches, and tips for beginners looking to become more eco-friendly.
Kellogg is a spokesperson for plastic-free living for National Geographic, Chief Sustainability Officer at One Movement, and published her debut novel, 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste, which outlines small steps one can make to live a zero-waste life, save money, and help the planet.
Hans Cosmas Ngoteya
Hans Cosmas Ngoteya is a wildlife photographer, conservationist, and advocate for the planet and wildlife. Based in Tanzania, Africa, Ngoteya's passion is building communities and society in a sustainable way, without harm to the planet.
Ngoteya is a member of many influential programs working to conserve resources and wildlife, including those that he has co-founded. Landscape and Conservation Mentors Organization (LCMO), co-founded by Ngoteya, focuses on promoting, supporting, and improving community, human interactions with wildlife, and sustainable development and practices.
Hans was awarded a National Geographic grant to promote human and wildlife co-existence in Tanzania through programs and organizations.
Lauren Singer
Lauren Singer is a blogger, environmentalist, and entrepreneur from New York City in the United States. Singer graduated from NYU in 2013 with a degree in environmental studies. She went on to become a sustainability analyst for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection before founding her current businesses.
Singer realized while completing her degree that the globe has a waste problem, and she wanted to help stop it. Singer began to use social media and her blog, Trash is For Tossers, to spread awareness about plastic pollution, bad waste management practices, and steps to take when starting a zero-waste journey.
Singer now owns Package Free Shop, a store that offers sustainable swaps and refillable packaging for everyday uses to help reduce plastic waste.
Julia Watkins
Julia Watkins is a 46-year-old mother, author, influencer, blogger, and DIY enthusiast. Watkins advocates for slow living, minimalism, sustainability, and environmental awareness. Her best-selling book, Simply Living Well, is full of DIY and low-toxin crafts, recipes, and more, that anyone can follow to create a sustainable home, even with children.
Watkins is passionate about sharing her journey to minimalism, a way of life that encourages living with less and sticking to the essentials. Her blog, also named, Simply Living Well, provides resources and guides for those interested in homesteading, composting, gardening, and becoming more self-sufficient without harming the planet.
Greta Thunberg
Greta Thunberg is a 19-year-old climate activist from Sweden, one of the world's most climate-neutral and sustainable countries. Even so, Thunberg began protesting outside of the Swedish Parliament every Friday, beginning in 2018, when she was just 15 years old. Her strikes symbolize her anger and disappointment in government officials in Sweden and across the globe for their delays in addressing the climate crisis.
Thunberg gained global attention using social media to document her weekly strikes, which inspired millions of other school-aged individuals to follow suit. Now coined Fridays for Future, Thunberg and her followers use Fridays to continue to spread awareness about climate change.
Thunberg has received multiple international recognitions for her ability to build community and unite people together to discuss climate change. She is also known for her bravery shown on international stages, where she has openly shamed government officials in their failure to address the climate crisis. Awards and titles she has received include honorary Fellowship of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, Time's 100 most influential people, being the youngest Time Person of the Year, featured in Forbes list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women (2019), and nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
