Japanese environmental activist Kimiko Hirata has been selected as one of the BBC’s 100 Women 2022, which was announced on December 6.

In 2021, Hirata was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize, an award often referred to as the “Nobel Prize for Environment” for her grassroots activities to achieve a decarbonized society, which she has been working on since she was a member of Kiko Network. This time, once again the magnitude and impacts of her contributions are recognized, now from a new perspective.

Described as a “Climate Campaigner”, Hirata and her contributions are described as follows in the BBC 100 Women 2022 list:

“A fierce opponent of coal power, Kimiko Hirata has spent nearly half her life fighting to wean Japan off its dependence on fossil fuels – by far the largest contributors to climate change. Her grassroots campaign resulted in the cancellation of 17 planned coal power plants. She is the first Japanese woman to win the Goldman Environmental Prize.

“Hirata quit her job at a publishing house to become a climate activist in the 1990s after reading Al Gore’s book Earth in the Balance. She’s now executive director of the independent organization Climate Integrate, established in January 2022, which is tackling decarbonisation.”

BBC 100 Women 2022: Who is on the list this year?  (Link)

The BBC’s list highlights 100 influential women from around the world. This year’s list includes women such as singer-songwriter Billie Eilish, who has been a voice for women’s rights, and Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska, who has focused on delivering mental health support for children and families traumatized by the ongoing Russian invasion. The activities of all of these women are serving as a motivating force throughout the world. Hirata’s activities have increased awareness of Japan’s coal phase-out efforts both in and outside Japan.

Climate Integrate press release : Climate Integrate’s Kimiko Hirata Among BBC’s 100 Women for 2022  (Link)

Related Links

【News】 Kiko Network’s Kimiko Hirata awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for her efforts on phasing out coal power　(Link)
2021 Goldman Prize Winner, Kimiko Hirata  (Link)
【Video】Voices from the local community in Yokosuka to stop the construction of a new coal-fired power plant  (Link)