Climate change is the greatest threat to the future of our planet. The 2018 IPCC report has expressed grave concerns that the world may the lose the battle against climate change unless all sections of civil society are engaged in mitigation efforts. Our world has more young people than ever before , yet we continue to be unaware and disengaged from all aspects of agenda setting, decision making and implementation related to mitigation of climate change. Youth empowerment , especially those from vulnerable communities , is critical in this regard , as they are amongst the most affected by its impacts. The workshop will spread awareness about the intersectionality of the climate crisis with gender, inequality, poverty , biodiversity and peace and how young people can take actions at a local level to mitigate them , citing case studies of Green Hope's action projects from various parts of the world. The participants will learn about the SDGs and relevant targets and then come up with solutions that they can implement in their local communities.
Iconic youth leader, global influencer, environmentalist, champion of children’s rights, TEDx speaker, author, musician, peace and sustainability campaigner and a passionate advocate of women’s rights, 20-year old Kehkashan Basu is a trail blazer who has been challenging the status quo and breaking social strictures and taboos which impede the progress and rights of future generations. Winner of the 2016 International Children’s Peace Prize, Kehkashan is a tireless advocate for the UN Sustainable Development Goals. She is a United Nations Human Rights Champion, National Geographic Young Explorer, Climate Reality Mentor and the youngest ever Global Coordinator for the United Nations Environment Program’s Major Group for Children & Youth. Kehkashan is the recipient of the first ever Gorbachev-Shultz Legacy Award for her work on peace and nuclear disarmament. She has just been recognized as a 2020 Global Sustainable Leaders, Companies, and Brands 100 Leader. She is the Council Lead at Toronto-St. Paul's Constituency Youth Council and is the youngest recipient of Canada's Top25 Women of Influence.
Kehkashan is the Founder President of the social innovation enterprise Green Hope Foundation, which provides young people in 16 countries a networking platform to engage in the sustainable development process. She is also the youngest member of Canada’s Women in Renewable Energy forum.
Kehkashan is a 2020 L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth Honouree, the recipient of the 2019 Innovator of the Year Award for Sustainability Education, the John Muir Conservation Award for Habitat Restoration, the Energy Globe Award, the Turner Prize for Social Change and the Women Super Achiever Award. A powerful voice for future generations, she has spoken at over 155 United Nations and other global fora across 25 countries.