Prajakta Koli becomes UNDP India’s First Youth Climate Champion, says ‘I am Truly Honoured’
United Nations Development Programme India today announced their partnership with leading content creator and actress Prajakta Koli
United Nations Development Programme India today announced their partnership with leading content creator and actress Prajakta Koli who is popularly known as Mostly Sane. She has been appointed as UNDP India’s First Youth Climate Champion. She will now be interacting with Young minds and spread awareness on Climate Change.
Notably, with a long-term vision to bring maximum youth participation in climate action, Koli, a youth icon, becomes the perfect candidate for the title given her long-standing contribution towards mental health, women rights and girl child education. Prajakta Koli is quite active when it comes voicing opinions on different social issues.
How this step will make a difference?
As UNDP India Youth Climate Champion, Koli will be entrusted with the responsibility of interacting with young minds to create awareness on the adverse impacts of climate change, global warming and biodiversity loss that are being felt by all sections of the society, especially the poor and marginalized communities. It has impacted their lives and livelihoods, and also the economy as a whole. Notably, she will address the need for collective action sharing inspirational stories of how governments, communities and individuals are taking definite steps to make a real difference.
Excerpts from Climate Vote 2021
According to G20 People’s Climate Vote 2021 Report, close to 67% of the youth in India consider the climate crisis as a global emergency and are vocal about the pressing need for urgent policy creation and change. Strong advocates for green development, the youth are ‘walking the talk’ by making climate conscious choices in their lifestyles such as buying sustainably sourced products and opting for eco-friendly transportation as well devoting their skills to harness innovative ideas to aid action towards the climate crisis.
Talking about the initiative Prajakta Koli said, “I am extremely humbled and honoured to have been entitled with this unique responsibility to champion a cause that is close to my heart. As the very first UNDP India Youth Climate Champion, I would like to produce and participate in opportunities that propel conversations around climate action and the urgent measures we must take. The youth need to be the torchbearers of this revolution and foot soldiers who will work towards the common goal of an enriched and empowered future where the human species doesn’t become endangered.”
Welcoming Prajakta, Shoko Noda, Resident Representative, UNDP India says, “We are excited to have Prajakta on board as the UNDP India Youth Climate Champion. Young people are the leading voice to make the world more sustainable. Prajakta has a strong connect with millions of young Indians. I am sure her voice reaches the hearts of youth, and inspires them to take climate action.”
Who is Prajakta Koli? What all she has done in past?
Known for being an active campaigner for socially relevant youth centric issues, Koli has tackled issues such as body shaming and online bullying with “Shameless” as part of her campaign #iPledgeToBeMe which she launched on World Mental Health Day in 2016. Being a global ambassador for YouTube’s Creators For Change, she threw light on trolling, female subjugation and homophobia through “No Offence” which was showcased on International Tolerance Day at the United Nations headquarters in New York. In 2018 she was seen in WhatsApp’s first ever TVC which addressed the importance of not spreading fake news. Later in the same year, she partnered with YouTube for Social Impact Girl’s Education campaign, with Instagram on their Safer Internet Week campaign and One.org for their Girl Education campaign. In 2019 she was invited by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for their annual Goalkeepers Summit. In 2019 She participated in Unite, a 24 live streamathon organised by Call to Unite and Room To Read to promote education amongst children and was seen alongside George Bush, Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner.
