Akira Sakano, the 29-year-old head of an environmental nonprofit organization based in Tokushima Prefecture, is serving as one of the eight co-chairs of the annual World Economic Forum being held in Davos, Switzerland.
"I want to present issues to the world from a local perspective," Sakano said of her hopes for the meeting, where leaders from governments, global businesses, civil society and other sectors are gathering from Jan. 22-25.
Fascinated by a zero-waste drive implemented by Kamikatsu, Tokushima Prefecture, Sakano moved to the mountain town of 1,500 from Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, in 2014. Her characteristic positivity has helped her assimilate into the local community, where she now chairs a nonprofit committed to achieving a zero-waste society both at home and abroad.
Household garbage in Kamikatsu is separated into 45 types of waste, with the town boasting a recycling rate as high as 81 percent, well above the national average of 20 percent in fiscal 2016. Lines of waste separation bins can be seen at waste disposal areas, with such items as empty paper rolls separated by hardness.
"Regular old women separate waste as part of their daily chores. I think that's amazing," said Sakano. For her part, Sakano regularly wears an upper body garment made from an old carp streamer, which are typically flown outdoors to celebrate the Boy's Festival in May.
Sakano was named co-chair due to her affiliation with the Forum's young leaders' network. Among her fellow co-chairs is World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, who's presence she describes as awe-inspiring.
"Unless the system is transformed on a global scale, a recycling-based society won't be realized. I want top world leaders to be part of this debate," she said.
Sakano studied environmental policy at Kwansei Gakuin University. She lives with her husband, who she married in Kamikatsu, and their 10-month-old daughter.
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