Lina María García

Colombian environmental activist advocating for plastic tax and Amazon rainforest conservation.

Lina María García is a Colombian environmental lawyer and activist who spearheaded the implementation of Colombia’s first national plastic tax in 2021. Her efforts have been pivotal in reducing single-use plastic consumption and funding reforestation projects in the Amazon basin. García’s advocacy began in 2018 with her grassroots campaign #PlásticoNoGracias (PlasticNotWelcome), which mobilized over 2 million Colombians to demand policy change.

As the director of Amazonia Vital, an environmental NGO, García coordinates cross-border initiatives to protect the Amazon rainforest. Her work has led to collaborations with Indigenous communities and international organizations like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The plastic tax she championed imposes a 10% levy on non-recyclable plastic products, generating over $100 million annually for environmental restoration.

García’s influence extends globally. She was a key speaker at the 2022 COP27 Climate Summit, advocating for biodiversity protection as a climate solution. Her TEDx talk “The Plastic Tax Saving the Amazon” has garnered over 2 million views, amplifying awareness about plastic pollution’s environmental toll.