When Ebony Twilley Martin became the first Black woman to lead Greenpeace USA, she wasn’t just making history—she was reshaping the environmental movement. Her journey into climate activism wasn’t driven by policy or politics, but by something much more personal: her son’s struggle with asthma, caused by air pollution.
In a powerful conversation on the Scientista Podcast, Twilley Martin shared how that moment changed everything, pushing her to fight for clean air, environmental justice, and systemic change in the climate movement.
Twilley Martin’s climate activism started in a doctor’s office. When her son was just three years old, his constant coughing and wheezing led her to seek medical help. But instead of asking about family history, the doctor asked where she lived.
“She said, ‘Your son has asthma, and it’s environmentally induced,’” Twilley Martin recalls. “That shook me to my core. As a mom, you want to protect your kid in every way you can. But how do you fix the air they breathe?”
As she researched further, she uncovered the grim reality: Black and brown children are disproportionately affected by air pollution and asthma due to their communities’ proximity to highways, industrial zones, and other pollution sources. She realized her son’s struggle wasn’t just personal—it was systemic.
Determined to make a difference, Twilley Martin joined Greenpeace, eventually rising through the ranks to become the first Black woman to lead the organization—and the first Black woman to lead a major legacy environmental organization in the U.S.
One of her biggest challenges? Transforming Greenpeace from within. She recognized that the climate movement had long been dominated by white leadership, often sidelining the voices of the communities most affected by pollution and climate change.
Under her leadership, Greenpeace launched an initiative called Embedding Justice, ensuring that hiring, promotions, training, and policies were truly inclusive. When she started, only 13% of Greenpeace USA’s staff were Black, Indigenous, or people of color. By the time she left, that number had grown to 54%.
Twilley Martin is clear: climate change isn’t just about the planet—it’s about people, and race is the number one predictor of environmental pollution.
“It’s not just about melting ice caps and polar bears,” she says. “It’s about the families in frontline communities dealing with higher asthma rates, increased cancer risk, and devastating climate disasters.”
She emphasizes that real climate solutions must be shaped by those who are directly impacted, ensuring that policies and strategies don’t just serve the privileged few but uplift the most vulnerable communities.
Twilley Martin also addressed the recent backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, particularly in the corporate and environmental sectors. She finds it heartbreaking that DEI is being reframed by some as a lowering of standards rather than what it truly is—expanding access and bringing in diverse expertise.
“DEI isn’t about excluding anyone. It’s about making sure everyone has a seat at the table,” she explains. “Studies show that diverse teams perform better, drive innovation, and lead to stronger organizations. So why wouldn’t we want that?”
She also highlights that DEI is about more than race—it encompasses gender, disabilities, LGBTQ+ inclusion, veterans, and economic backgrounds. “It’s for everyone,” she says.
One of the biggest challenges Twilley Martin sees in the climate movement is making the crisis relevant to people’s daily lives.
“How do you get someone to care about climate change when they can’t afford groceries?” she asks. “We need to connect climate issues to what people are already struggling with—high energy bills, housing displacement from extreme weather, rising healthcare costs from pollution-related diseases.”
She believes that trusted messengers—people who represent their communities—are key to building public trust and engagement. “People are more likely to listen when the message comes from someone who looks like them and understands their struggles,” she says.
During her time at Greenpeace, Twilley Martin helped organize bold, direct-action campaigns, including working with Jane Fonda’s Fire Drill Fridays to push for clean energy policies.
But she also believes in balancing activism with civil discourse. “We need both—disruptive action to force awareness, but also real conversations with policymakers,” she explains. “Before any major action, I’d always ask, Have we exhausted every opportunity for dialogue?”
Quoting Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail, she reminds activists that nonviolent direct action is meant to create the kind of tension that forces people to confront injustice.
Twilley Martin’s journey to leadership wasn’t one she planned—her background is actually in music, not environmental policy.
“I was supposed to be a music teacher,” she laughs. “Somehow, I ended up revamping HR policies at Greenpeace and then leading a major climate organization.”
She credits her grandmother as her biggest inspiration. Born in the Jim Crow South in the 1930s, her grandmother refused to accept the limitations society placed on her. She moved to Washington, D.C., put herself through nursing school, and became a leader in her community.
“She showed me that you don’t let anyone else define who you are—you define yourself,” Twilley Martin says. “That’s the best advice I can give to young scientists, activists, and future leaders.”
Twilley Martin’s story is one of resilience, transformation, and fighting for justice. Whether leading Greenpeace, advocating for frontline communities, or shaping the future of climate activism, her message is clear:
• Climate justice is social justice.
• Diversity strengthens movements.
• Real change requires both bold action and difficult conversations.
For more insights from Ebony Twilley Martin, tune in to the latest episode of the Scientista Podcast.
