UN Chief’s Youth Advisory on Climate Change Appoints Indian Activist

An Indian Climate activist has been appointed by the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, to his new advisory group comprising young leaders, who will provide perspectives and solutions to tackle the deteriorating climatic conditions.

The candidate, Archana Soreng, will join six other young climate leaders from around the world who have been named by Mr Guterres to his new Youth Advisory Group. The Indian Climate activist, Ms Soreng, is experienced in advocacy and research. She is working to document, preserve and promote traditional knowledge and cultural practices of indigenous communities.

Soreng said, "Our ancestors have been protecting the forest and nature over the ages through their traditional knowledge and practices. Now it is on us to be the front runners in combating the climate crisis”. She also said she studied regulatory governance from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Mumbai and is the former TISS Students Union President. The young activists, aged between 18 and 28 years, will advise the UN chief regularly on accelerating global action and ambition to tackle the worsening climate crisis.

The announcement marks a new effort by the United Nations to bring more young leaders into decision-making and planning processes, as the UN works to mobilize climate action as part of the COVID-19 recovery efforts.