López was portrayed by Paula Peralejo in the 1995 film Eskapo.

She initiated Bantay Bata 163, the country’s first media-based hotline. In 1997, Bantay Bata was the United Nations Grand Awardee for Excellence besting 187 countries all over the world.

Lopez also initiated the rehabilitation of the Pasig River and nearby urban streams through the Kapit Bisig para sa Ilog Pasig project. Once considered as the lifeline of the Filipino nation, the Pasig River is one of the most polluted and toxic river systems in the Philippines today. For her efforts in rehabilitating the river, she was appointed in 2010 by President Benigno Aquino III as the Chairperson of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission. Her efforts in the commission led to a river rehabilitation revolution which cleansed numerous tributaries in the Pasig river system. She was also responsible for the reforestation of the La Mesa Watershed Reservation, the last remaining forest zone in Metro Manila.

Lopez’s appointment as Environment Secretary was rejected by the Commission on Appointments (CA) in a vote of 8–16 on May 3, 2017 amid issues over her controversial policies and alleged incompetence. She was the second member of President Rodrigo Duterte’s cabinet to be rejected by the Commission on Appointments following former Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay. In a press conference after the announcement of her rejection, Lopez thanked the eight CA members who “voted according to their conscience” and urged the legislators to look after the needs of the poor and not of big businesses. She said “it is unfortunate that business interest have in fact run the day.” She added “if government co-opts to big businesses, then what hope does the poor have? What message are we giving here? If you wanna be confirmed, don’t go against big businesses.”

Lopez hosted an environmental show on ABS-CBN, entitled G Diaries, which premiered on June 4, 2017. The show focuses on environmental conservation and innovations. The show also premiered on ANC due to its high ratings.

Lopez became the first Filipino to be awarded the prestigious Seacology Prize on October 5, 2017 in Berkeley, California. The prize states the Lopez is “someone who has shown exceptional achievement in preserving island environments and culture” and “shown the vision and courage the Seacology Prize is meant to honor. She has fought for the Philippines environment and gave island communities there a voice in the decisions that affect their natural resources and their lives.” She was also cited for establishing the first ever consultations between the government and indigenous groups in the Philippines and for banning open-pit mining.

In the same month, Lopez campaigned against the possible lifting of the open-pit mining ban, which she installed while DENR secretary. It was revealed that newly appointed DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu supported the lifting of the ban, causing outrage from environmental organizations. The lifting of the ban was eventually supported by President Duterte, despite backing Lopez’s imposition of the ban in early 2017. On October 24, the ban was officially lifted by the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC), a commission which advocated mining in the Philippines. 26 mining agreements that were halted by Lopez were sent by Cimatu to the MICC for evaluation and confirmation as well.

Lopez was earlier diagnosed with brain cancer. She died of multiple organ failure related to the disease at Makati Medical Center on August 19, 2019 at the age of 65.