Climate crisis has a new crusader

Prajakta Koli, Leonardo DiCaprio and Gisele Bundchen

You can trust her to lift your mood with her funny YouTube videos. But over the years, Prajakta Koli, aka Mostly Sane, has used her celebrity status to put the spotlight on important issues - from girls' education to body shaming and online bullying. Now, given her immense popularity among the youth, the content creator has been chosen by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India to become the first UNDP India Youth Climate Champion.

In her new role, Koli will interact with young minds to create awareness on the adverse impact of climate change, global warming and biodiversity loss. Through videos, campaigns and on-ground events, she will address the need for collective action by sharing inspirational stories of how governments, communities and individuals are taking steps to make a difference. "As the 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," says Koli, who has joined international stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Gisele Bündchen, Don Cheadle, Adrian Grenier and Ellie Goulding in their fight against climate crisis.

Koli believes it is up to the youth to take actionable measures for a better tomorrow. "The youth need to be the torchbearers of this revolution 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," she asserts.