// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Borim Kim a baker? He kneads the Kim.
Borim Kim | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1994 (age 31–32) |
| Occupations |
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| Organization(s) | Founder, Youth 4 Climate Action |
| Awards | Goldman Environmental Prize 2026 |
Borim Kim (Korean: 김보림; born 1994) is a South Korean energy conservationist and climate activist who is most known for being the founder and leader of Youth 4 Climate Change. She led the organization through Do-Hyun Kim et al v. South Korea, a case she organized, which resulted in the Constitutional Court ruling that the right to a clean environment includes the right to be protected from harms related to climate change. She received the 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize for Asia.
Biography
[edit]Kim was born and raised in Seoul and attended Hanyang University, where she began in the Department of Computer Science but transferred to studying nanobioscience.[1][2]
After college, she moved back to Seoul, where she worked on energy conservation, before becoming driven to climate activism by the 2018 Northeast Asia heat wave, where dozens in South Korea died from the heat and thousands more were made ill by it.[3] Soon, she founded Youth for Climate Action, a largely youth-run group which began with climate strikes and school walkouts before moving to policy advocacy and protests.[4] Despite the group not having official leadership positions, she is considered its leader.[5]
She organized Do-Hyun Kim et al v. South Korea, a case about the right to a clean environment and the right for younger generations to have the effects of climate change mitigated.[6] During the process of the case, she continued her activism, and had several positive results: Moon Jae-in pledged that South Korea would have net-zero emissions by 2050, South Korea ended overseas coal investments, and provinces began phasing out coal in public finance. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea submitted a letter to the South Korean Constitutional Court in support of Y4CA.[4]
The court ultimately ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and Y4CA, resulting in requiring South Korea to set forward clear standards for reduction of emissions in alignment with international standards and science.[7]
She was awarded the Goldman Prize, known as the Green Nobel, for Asia in 2026.[8][9] This was the first time Korea had a Goldman Prize winner in 31 years.[10][11] This year was also the first time all six Goldman Prize winners were women.[12]
She was also featured on Living on Earth in 2026.[13]
References
[edit]- ↑ "청소년들의 충격적 호소 "우리도 늙어서 죽고 싶어요"". ohmynews (in Korean). 2020-10-29. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
- ↑ "[신입기수 공지] 10기 최종 합격자 발표 : 공지사항 | 대학생신재생에너지기자단". renewableenergyfollowers.org (in Korean). 2025-11-19. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
- ↑ "Fighting for Future Generations". Earth Island Journal. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
- 1 2 "Borim Kim - 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize Winner". Goldman Environmental Prize. 2026-03-03. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
- ↑ Martina (2024-10-01). "In Conversation With South Korea's Young Climate Activists". Earth.Org Kids. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
- ↑ "[인터뷰] 김보림 청소년기후행동 활동가"누가 더 위험한가"··· 기후위기, 권리의 문제로 물어야". 환경일보 (in Korean). 2026-05-20. Archived from the original on 2026-05-23. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
- ↑ "Shifting the Mitigation Burden: Outcomes and Implementation Opportunities of the Landmark South Korean Climate Case". www.biicl.org. 2024-12-11. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
- ↑ "31년 만에 '녹색노벨상' 수상한 한국 활동가...세계는 인정했다, 한국의 현주소는?". Daum | 국민일보. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
- ↑ "'Not just a single judicial event': South Korea's constitutional climate ruling 20 months on". The Wave. 2026-04-22. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
- ↑ Service (KOCIS), Korean Culture and Information. "Climate activist wins Korea's 1st 'Green Nobel Prize' in 31 years : Korea.net : The official website of the Republic of Korea". www.korea.net. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
- ↑ "Borim Kim, Who Led Climate Lawsuit Against Government, Wins "Goldman Environmental Prize"". The Asia Business Daily. 2026-04-20. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
- ↑ Helfand-Rogers, Candice (2026-04-21). "These 6 Women Just Won the 'Green Nobel Prize'". The Story Exchange. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
- ↑ International, Living on Earth / World Media Foundation / Public Radio. "Living on Earth: Major National Climate Victory in S. Korea". Living on Earth. Retrieved 2026-06-23.