Meet Vishnu, India’s ‘Champion’ at UN’s First Youth Climate Summit

Vishnu is among 100 outstanding climate champions who will attend the Youth Climate Summit in the United Nations.

(Photo: Arnica Kala/The Quint)

Video Editor: Vishal Kumar

A young climate activist from India, Vishnu PR, is among 100 outstanding climate champions from around the world who will travel to the UN headquarters to participate in the first-ever Youth Climate Summit on 21 September.

He has been selected for a special ‘Green Ticket’ which will help him to participate in the summit, which is a platform for young climate leaders to showcase their solutions for climate change on a global stage.

Hailing from Thiruvananthapuram, Vishnu is the CEO of ‘Change Can Change Climate Change (C5) Foundation’, an organisation focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation projects.

“People should be given the power to decide on their life. People should be warned of the climate emergencies around them and should be reminded about the significance of having a sustainable lifestyle. Climate change is not just about melting glaciers anymore. It has started affecting our daily life and our mental well-being.” 

Vishnu PR to The Quint

On Climate Activism in India

Speaking to The Quint, Vishnu said that the common men and women who fight climate change in their everyday lives are the real heroes.

“There are exceptional common men and women who are doing great, amazing work in the field of climate change. Like, farmers working with hybrid crop varieties, according to our climate. Young techies quitting their jobs and doing organic farming, retired couples creating forests. Such people, to me personally, are the real climate champions or the real heroes of our country.”

Vishnu PR to The Quint

Young students across the world have been taking to the streets in large numbers as part of a coordinated global strike – #FridaysForFuture – to protest government and corporate inaction on climate change. While these protests have been held in India regularly, they have not yet gained momentum and see scant participation.

“This is maybe due to the socio-cultural scenario here. Our kids are more dependent on their parents and teachers. They might not be that independent enough to boycott their schools.” 

Vishnu PR to The Quint

Work in Climate Change Sector

C5 is a youth-led initiative which was originally designed as a sustainable volunteer development platform to serve as a model for the whole nation, starting from Thiruvananthapuram. It has expanded into a platform with more than 10,000 registered youngsters in the district, the UN said.

These projects are operated by creating financially sustainable eco-friendly business models which are seed funded by CSR initiatives and every component operates as sustainable business units which will become self-sustainable in the future, thereby creating a social entrepreneurship incubation platform for young entrepreneurs who are working in the sectors of climate change.

“The change in our behaviour and our attitude is the only way to achieve sustainability as we believe only that change can change climate change.”

Vishnu PR to The Quint