New Delhi, 21 January 2022: United Nations Development Programme India today announced their partnership with leading content creator and actress Prajakta Koli who embraces the moniker MostlySane as their first UNDP India Youth Climate Champion.

With a long-term vision to reinforce maximum youth participation in climate action and ensure a more sustainable future, 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 through various global social campaigns.

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, impacting their lives and livelihoods, and also the economy as a whole. 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.

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.

An elated Prajakta Koli states, “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. We have created this problem, but we can solve it too. With UNDP, I will strive to work with young minds across the globe to take appropriate measures for climate action.”

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.”

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. The Michelle Obama helmed Emmy Award winning 2020 Creators For Change

YouTube Original Documentary saw Koli touching upon the importance of education of the girl child. In 2021 she joined Google.org Impact Challenge to aid grants to non-profits addressing economic inequities faced by women and girls alongside Shakira, Amanda Gorman, Naomi Osaka and Dr. Rigoberta Menchú Tum.

NOTES TO THE EDITOR

About UNDP India

UNDP has worked in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development, from systems and institutional strengthening to inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods, as well as sustainable energy, environment and resilience. UNDP’s programmes fully integrate a global vision for catalytic change with India’s national priorities.

With over 30 projects on the ground in almost every state, today UNDP India works to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by transforming traditional models to do development differently.

Press Contact: Prajakta Koli – Dream N Hustle Media

● Jashoda Madhavji +919892217007 / jashoda.madhavji@gmail.com

● Namrata Joseph +919890268118 / namrata.joseph17@gmail.com

Press Contact: UNDP India - Tarmac Affairs

● Malika Kumar +919899961550 / malika@tarmacaffairs.com