Theonila Roka Matbob Awarded 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize

Theonila Roka Matbob has received the 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize for the island nations region. The prestigious prize recognizes grassroots environmental champions.

Background: Life Near the Panguna Mine

Theonila Roka Matbob is from the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea. She grew up near the Panguna copper and gold mine, which was developed by Rio Tinto and operated by its subsidiary Bougainville Copper Ltd. between 1972 and 1989.

The mine's operation was linked to a civil war that began in the late 1980s. The conflict involved the mining company bringing in outside labor and the military intervening. Roka Matbob's father was killed during this period.

The mine shut down amid the unrest. Roka Matbob stated there was no subsequent plan to address environmental damage. A peace agreement was signed in 1998, but Roka Matbob felt it did not address continued environmental issues.

Activism and Legal Action

Roka Matbob began her activism as a high school student leading protests. In 2019, her community invited the Human Rights Law Centre to document their situation. The Centre published a report titled "After the mine: Living with Rio Tinto's deadly legacy."

Roka Matbob became the lead complainant in a human rights complaint filed by the Human Rights Law Centre against Rio Tinto. In 2021, Rio Tinto agreed to fund an independent assessment of the Panguna mine's impact. In 2024, the company signed a memorandum of understanding to work with impacted communities on remediation.

Motivation and Perspective

Roka Matbob stated that milestones in her work included the Human Rights Law Centre listening to the community, Rio Tinto acknowledging their report, and the company's rapid response to the legal complaint.

She stated her motivation comes from her identity as part of the indigenous Nasioi people and the Basikang clan, where the land is considered inseparable from life. She also cited her role as a mother.

Roka Matbob stated the environmental damage is irreversible, but her goal is to help people transition "from living in survival mode to living in thriving mode."

Ilan Kayatsky of the Goldman Environmental Prize stated Roka Matbob is "leading a historic effort to obtain justice for decades of environmental and social devastation because of the Panguna mine."

Additional Context

Roka Matbob was elected to Bougainville's House of Representatives, where she continued her advocacy. She stated that decisions regarding the prize money would be made with the community.