Kimi Narita

Kimi is associate director of global climate strategies at Climate Lead, where she brings her systems thinking, policy experience, and climate and equity expertise to help new philanthropists on their path to climate giving.

Prior to joining Climate Lead, Kimi spent nine years at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), where she helped build the cities portfolio, most recently as the senior strategic advisor of the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge. Kimi also led the strategic integration of NRDC’s local, state, and federal work and worked within the institution on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Kimi has deep experience working at all levels of U.S. government, from advocating at state legislatures and public utility commissions in the Midwest to the federal infrastructure package. Previously, she was the deputy director of NRDC’s City Energy Project, and, earlier in her career, clerked for the Honorable Justice Stowers of the Alaska State Supreme Court.

Kimi earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropological sciences, master’s degree in environment and resources, and JD from Stanford University. Originally from Los Angeles, Kimi is proud to have lived in many U.S. cities and now resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, young sons, and dog. She is acutely aware and incredibly motivated by the fact that she and her colleagues fight for a sustainable and equitable future for all families every day.