Few choose to become climate activists; it’s a path that chose me. Being an activist was clearly in my blood, as I grew up in a home that taught us to serve humanity and safeguard our precious Earth. I’m privileged to journey through this life alongside my sister, a powerhouse social entrepreneur, leader, teacher, and the perfect partner, Ella Bella.
Our work has never been easy.
Ella and I would not only be the only women around the table, but often the youngest by at least 30 years. Corporate South Africa wasn’t yet ready to talk about sustainability and environmental planning, let alone climate projects and campaigns.
Fighting for A Healthier Planet
Around the age of 18, I remember being in a board meeting at a well-known financial institution, with Ella and me proposing this bold idea of planting hundreds of trees to champion the greening of under-greened communities. Why on earth would they fund a greening program, “to plant trees”?
But no was never an answer for us. If it meant raising funds ourselves, we were going to make that green corridor happen.
And we did. One tree at a time, we met with communities, understood the social needs that existed, and set about addressing the environmental challenges. We worked at building strong bonds with the people we served.
Going green
Yes, I’m that person. I’ll pack groceries into my boot, one by one, and then repack them on the other side, if I’ve been so careless as to forget my shopper bags.
I’ll always check that I have a coffee cup on hand, and if I don’t, you can be sure I’ll be finding something to repurpose my coffee cup into.
Yes, I recycle EVERYTHING. I have a service provider who collects every second week, and I have both a worm farm and a compost heap. Even my banana skins have a purpose: they’re a delicacy for my rose garden. My journey has been anything but conventional, but I’m living a life of purpose, championing causes I truly believe in. More than 20 years later, we can stand proudly under the shade of almost 60,000 trees that we’ve planted across South Africa.
Through our Miss Earth South Africa leadership program, we visit schools where children sit under the shade of these trees, and on summer days, will pick fruit from them.
Through our Generation Earth program, we’ve been privileged to work with gogos in informal settlements, addressing food justice through our community food-garden initiatives. These are my happy places…
Sustainability is more than going green
Sustainability is far more than a green status. It isn’t a box-ticking exercise; it’s about changing mindsets, habits, and our collective vision of the future we want. It’s about ensuring that, in our everyday actions, we work towards making that our reality.
I’m humbled by a journey that has given me profound life lessons and opportunities to connect deeply with nature and her ecosystems, while becoming a custodian of it all, and serving my fellow human beings. We so easily forget that we get only one precious life. May we fight to have a world where there is enough for all, forever!
What you can do
- Choose reusable bags, water bottles, and coffee cups instead of disposable ones.
- Choose high-quality, timeless items of clothing that are made from sustainable materials and produced with fair labor
- Recycle paper, plastic, glass, and metal, and compost food waste.
- Buy locally grown produce, reduce meat consumption, and support farmers who use sustainable practices.
Who is the author?
Catherine Constantinides (main photo) is a prominent climate activist and humanitarian. She has over 25 years of experience in social justice, sustainable development, and environmental education.
Catherine is the Co-founder of Generation Earth. She is also Director of Merchants of Light NPC, and fa ormer Executive Director of Lead SA.
She brings extensive board-level experience across leading civic and non-profit organisations. Contributes a strong civil society perspective, with expertise in policy advocacy, coalition building, and international engagement. This includes representation at UN processes and COP forums, in support of the PCC’s inclusive, people-centred mandate.
She’s spoken on global stages. Listed as one of Africa’s Top 100 Young People, and was recently announced as Glamour Magazine’s Humanitarian of The Year in 2026.
Back to the Earth
This article was originally published in our annual print edition 2025/6, themed “Back to Earth.”
The print has sold out, but you can buy a digital copy on Zinio.com.
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