World Environmental Health Day: Prajakta Koli highlights youth's role in environmental conservation and meets Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

On World Environmental Health Day, Prajakta Koli, a content creator and actor, emphasizes the role of youth in saving the environment. Currently at Climate Week 2024 in New York as India’s representative for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), she believes that environmental issues are crucial for humanity's survival. “If there’s one issue pressing humanity’s survival, it’s the environment,” says the 31-year-old.

Koli stresses the importance of introducing environmental education early in schools. “When I was in school, we didn’t take environmental studies seriously. That mindset needs to change,” she points out. She now uses her social media platforms to raise awareness about climate action. Koli encourages young people to engage in discussions about environmental issues, stating, “They are the most active demographic on digital platforms. They want to make a difference and do their part.”

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Meeting Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

During Climate Week 2024, Koli had the opportunity to meet Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, the Danish actor and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador known for his role as Jaime in *Game of Thrones*. She shared, “We had great conversations both before and after shooting for my channel and discussed how he uses storytelling to advance conversations about climate action. He is so passionate about the cause, it’s really inspiring.”

Koli believes that for the youth's voices to have an impact, those in power must listen to them seriously. She encourages young people to participate actively in environmental discussions and advocate for change, highlighting their potential to drive important conversations about climate issues.