Think Earth Interview：環境活動家 小野りりあん

Think Earth Interview: Lilian Ono, Environmental Activist

At eit swim, we share our perspective on a variety of topics each season. And now, we’ve started doing interviews with people we most want to hear from. Through the questions we ask and the stories we share, we hope to spark conversations with all of you.

Lilian Ono is an active and positive environmental activist who speaks out about the urgent challenges facing our planet.

The title “environmental activist” might sound serious or intimidating, but Lilian is anything but. She’s far more casual, free-spirited, and charming than you might imagine. She really makes you think, “Wow, being an environmental activist is seriously cool!”

– How did you first get interested in environmental issues?

There are a few moments, but the first was when I was 8 years old. Around that time, the destruction of the ozone layer was making headlines, and a friend of my mother showed me a speech by Severn Cullis-Suzuki, an 11-year-old girl from Canada. She raised her own funds to attend an environmental summit in Brazil and spoke there as a representative of children on environmental issues. (YouTube)

I admired her so much that it became one of my childhood dreams. For many years, I felt deeply about the Earth’s problems but didn’t have friends to talk about them with—until I was 24. I took a break from modeling and attended the International People’s College in Denmark, an adult education program. There, I met peers who shared my interests, and I finally found my path.

At the college, we lived in dorms with people from about 37 countries, researched global issues like terrorism and environmental challenges, and presented our findings for discussion—a truly invaluable experience.

After returning to Tokyo, I heard about a “Climate March” and bravely decided to join. That was my real starting point. I met so many like-minded people and began volunteering with the environmental NGO “350.” Being around people knowledgeable about environmental issues is incredibly inspiring—you learn more, understand what actions to take, and can share that knowledge with others.

– What’s your everyday lifestyle like?

I make sure to use an electricity provider that doesn’t rely on fossil fuels (Power Shift is a great resource for finding clean energy providers). I try to get organic vegetables from people I know and choose seasonings without additives. Growing up, I naturally practiced saving electricity and water.

But honestly, changing your lifestyle alone isn’t the most important thing. The world needs to reach net-zero CO2 emissions, and one person changing their electricity or water use won’t be enough. Adjusting our lifestyle can help shift focus to bigger issues, but we also need systemic changes, like Japan moving away from fossil fuels. To achieve this, everyone must raise their voices.

– Which environmental issues feel most immediate?

Climate change is the most tangible. Stronger typhoons and more frequent natural disasters in Japan make it more real for many people.

2020’s summer, for instance, is said to be the hottest in human history. While Japanese TV might not report on it, in just one month, Kenya faced heavy rains, the Indian Ocean saw its largest hurricane ever, and Somalia experienced massive flooding.

If the extinction of dinosaurs was Earth’s 5th mass extinction, we are now in the 6th. Each year, an estimated 50,000–150,000 species go extinct—about 100–300 species daily—a pace unprecedented in history (Norman Myers, Vanishing Ark).

It’s easy to think these issues are distant, but environmental destruction equals disruptions in our daily lives. And in extreme cases, it could threaten human survival altogether.

– Current projects you’re working on?

  1. The Roots activist house, where I live. “Roots” represents a place where grassroots movements can grow. People interested in environmental issues gather here to work on civic activities together.

  2. Supporting the Japanese branch of Fridays For Future, started by Greta Thunberg, including strategizing on how to influence national policy and connecting Tokyo-based activities with regional initiatives.

  3. Spiral Club, an open community themed “Let’s Talk About Environment!”, where we create informative videos, advise companies, and respond to media inquiries.

– Five things we can do for the planet?

  1. Listen to scientists.

  2. Share and communicate with others.

  3. Make small lifestyle changes.

  4. Join local climate initiatives.

  5. Support better companies and policies.

It’s said that if 3.5% of the population acts, a movement can succeed. Lilian hopes everyone can be part of that 3.5%.

– Meeting you changed my view on environmental activists and their communities.

At first, I didn’t have a very positive image either. I thought activists were all serious and a bit rigid (laughs). But once I actually spent time with them, I found they were warm and very human. People are like mirrors—the people and surroundings around you reflect who you are. After meeting those kinds of people, it became much easier for me to share and show what I care about to people who aren’t yet interested in environmental issues.

– Any rules when choosing products?

I’m actually not someone who buys a lot (laughs), but when I do, I choose products that consider the environment and people. Don’t worry about doing everything perfectly—just start small and do what you can.

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