GBM at COP 15

This December world leaders and thousands of delegates, NGOs and activists will be heading to Copenhagen for the latest round of UNFCCC negotiations seeking to agree a global treaty to limit green house gas emissions and therefore climate change.

Wangari Maathai and GBM will be there ensuring that sub Saharan voices are heard at the conference, presenting the case for a grassroots response to climate change and the recognition of the role of indigenous forests.

Mobilizing rural poor people in developing countries to manage ecosystems and plant trees can achieve a range of sustainable development goals as well as sequestering significant amounts of CO2 and helping to create climate resilient communities. See our new climate change section for more information.

Latest News

Constituency Boundaries and Options
Presented by Wangari Maathai
By Wangari Maathai
Kenya, November 4, 2009
This country is threatened. And it is not because we have an unbearable constitution or constituency boundaries. It is rather, because we have citizens and micro-nations whose political and economic needs and interests are not being protected by the current constitution and boundaries. So, they are clamouring for a new political order.
[Read More...]
Wangari Maathai Underscores Importance of Good Governance in Poverty Reduction Efforts
By Unattributed
African Development Bank, October 27, 2009
Nobel Laureate, Wangari Maathai, has underscored the importance of good governance in the effective and sustainable management of the continent’s natural resources. Speaking in Tunis, Tunisia, on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, within the framework of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group’s Eminent Speakers Program, Prof. Maathai noted that poverty and environmental degradation on the continent were results of poor governance.
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Q&A: Wangari Maathai
By Rosanna Greenstreet
Guardian, October 17, 2009
'We have seen an upsurge of awareness in citizens and leaders of both rich and poor countries, and a great desire to manage the environment better'
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Congratulations to President Barack Obama, Nobel Peace Laureate 2009!
By Wangari Maathai
October 9, 2009
The news that President Barack Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is extremely exciting and inspiring for Kenyans, Africans, and indeed the world. In Africa, President Obama continues to be not only an inspiration but also a sign of hope and a challenge. In winning this prestigious award President Obama demonstrates what Africans could achieve if her leaders would provide an enabling environment.
[Read More...]
Can one woman save Africa?
Wangari Maathai saw trees being chopped down in her backyard in Kenya and dedicated her life to saving Africa's rainforests. Now it's time for the rest of the world to face some hard truths, the Nobel laureate tells Johann Hari
By Johann Hari
The Independent, September 28, 2009
When does planting a tree become a revolutionary act – and unleash an army of gunmen who want to shoot you dead? The answer to this question lies in the unlikely story of Wangari Maathai.
[Read More...]

About Us

Who We Are
This is the official website of the Green Belt Movement (GBM) and its founder, the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Professor Wangari Maathai.

What We Do
GBM provides income and sustenance to millions of people in Kenya through the planting of trees. It also conducts educational campaigns to raise awareness about women's rights, civic empowerment, and the environment throughout Kenya and Africa.

Plant Trees!

How to Get Involved
There are many ways to contribute to our work. Make a donation directly to GBM. Find out more about our Green Belt Safaris. Or buy Wangari Maathai’s books.

Unbowed
In her autobiography Unbowed, now available in paperback, Wangari Maathai explores her roots and the challenges she faced in an inspiriting message of hope and prosperity through self-sufficiency. Available in the U.S. || U.K. || Italy || Japan || Netherlands || Spain || France || Finland || Greece || Germany.