25 Years of Movement-Building

25 years ago, people from over 20 countries gathered together in Johannesburg, South Africa for the first GAIA meeting. The stakes were high– as the waste crisis grew, more and more municipalities were looking for an easy way out, and incinerator proposals were popping up throughout the world. The original founders had a vision of a global grassroots network that sparks a transition away from our current linear and extractive economy and towards a circular system that supports people’s right to a safe and healthy environment.

Today, GAIA is made up of over 1,000 members in over 90 countries, was a founding member of the Break Free From Plastic movement, and has made great strides in its goal of fighting pollution and building regenerative solutions in cities across the world.

Learn more about GAIA’s history

A Word from Our Regional Coordinators

This year, each regional coordinator will be publishing a letter reflecting on progress in their region since GAIA’s founding. Stay tuned for additions in the coming months!

As we enter our 25th year at GAIA, I want to recognize that these are not easy times, and yet I feel deeply grateful to be part of our network as we turn toward the future…Our collective victories are many, and the relationships we form are strong enough to withstand firestorms, hurricanes, and changes in government. I’m heartened to know that we are not alone–in fact, I gain strength every day from the deep relationships that I’ve built through GAIA.

Christie Keith International Coordinator

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Our members are leading the transition to zero waste, fighting the plastic production machine and dismantling the systems that seek to oppress us. That is what GAIA is about – justice. No person or community is disposable, and together, collectively, we can do anything.

Niven Reddy GAIA Africa Regional Coordinator

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Our movement is much more than just a series of organizations coordinating actions for specific purposes. It is a living demonstration that a different world is possible– that community work builds power, inspires creativity, and creates opportunities to work together towards a shared vision.

Magdalena Donoso GAIA Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Coordinator

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In less than a decade, we moved “zero waste” from the margins to center stage. Ever since, we’ve continued walking in the footsteps of our movement’s early pioneers—while forging new paths in a decentralised movement now led by countless brilliant activists.

Esra Tat Executive Director, Zero Waste Europe

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As we close out 2025, and mark GAIA’s 25th year as a global network, I find myself holding a mix of exhaustion, gratitude, and deep pride for what we’ve built. This was a year that asked a lot of us. A year that reminded me, again and again, that this work is as much about how we care for one another as it is about what we are fighting against.

Denaya Shorter Senior Director, U.S. & Canada

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Since GAIA’s founding:

375

incinerators have been prevented or shut down

50+

laws have been enacted discouraging waste incineration

OVER 500

cities have committed to zero waste

OVER 122

million people are living in a zero waste cit

Stories of Success

Celebrating GAIA’s 25th Anniversary

Homenajes encuentro virtual 2025 GAIA y BFFP América Latina

Homenaje a nuestros miembros en el marco de la celebración de los 25 años de GAIA. Watch the tribute to our Latin American and Caribbean members’ achievements and dedication to justice as part of GAIA’s 25th anniversary celebration.

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GAIA Africa Podcast: 25 Years of Environmental Justice

Join us for one-on-one conversations with GAIA Africa members leading the way to environmental justice as they highlight stories and reflections from across the network. This episode features Maditlhare Koena of the South African Waste Pickers Association, in conversation with GAIA Africa’s Andrea Dixon.

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GAIA Africa Podcast: 25 Years of Environmental Justice

Join us for one-on-one conversations with GAIA Africa members leading the way to environmental justice as they highlight stories and reflections from across the network. This episode features a conversation between Richard Benin and Maimoni Ubrei-Joe of CODAF, hosted by Weyinmi Okotie.

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GAIA Africa Podcast: 25 Years of Environmental Justice

In this special 25th anniversary episode, Careen Mwakitalu (GAIA Africa) sits down with the passionate Nipe Fagio team. Together, they take us on a journey through Nipe Fagio’s remarkable milestones, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the lessons learned along the way. Discover how their work has made a lasting impact on environmental justice in Tanzania, and how being part of the GAIA network has strengthened their mission and expanded their reach.

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