Who is the Vietnamese woman recently named one of the most influential climate activists in the world?
Nguy Thi Khanh, founder and director of the Hanoi-based Green Innovation and Development Center (Green ID), has recently been recognized by Apolitical as one of the 100 most influential people in climate policy.
Khanh, who received a Goldman Environmental Prize in 2018, was named in the 'Academia and Advocacy' section on the official site of Apolitical. The London-based organization is a global network for governments, which helps public servants find ideas, people, and partners they need to take on the most difficult challenges facing their societies.
According to her biography on the Goldman Environmental Foundation, while growing up, Khanh experienced firsthand pollution and dust from coal-fired power plants. After graduating from college, she began working on water conservation issues and community development for a small Vietnamese non-profit organization.
In 2011, she founded Green ID to promote sustainable energy development, clean water, air governance, and green development in Vietnam. While deeply engaged in working with experts and policymakers on renewable energy and energy efficiency, she also established the Vietnam Sustainable Energy Alliance, a network of 11 Vietnamese and international environmental and social organizations that collaborate on regional energy issues.
In addition, according to VnExpress, she also serves as the advocacy coordinator at the Vietnam Rivers Network, a forum designed to protect rivers and promote sustainable development.
According to the news source, this year's 100 most influential climate activists includes just two Southeast Asians, the other being Tri Rismaharini, the mayor of Surabaya in Indonesia. Other big names on the list include Al Gore, Bernie Sanders, Pope Francis, Michael Bloomberg, US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and many more.
[Photo via Goldman Environmental Prize]
