Archana Soreng, a climate activist from Odisha, has been named by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as a member of his new Advisory Group on Climate Change.
The group comprising six young leaders in the age group of 18-28 years would provide perspectives and solutions to tackle the worsening climate crisis at a time when the UN is leading the world in fighting Covid-19 pandemic.
“Soreng is experienced in advocacy and research. She is working to document, preserve and promote traditional knowledge and cultural practices of indigenous communities,” the UN said in a statement on Monday.
“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,” said Soreng, a pass out of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai.
The young activists would advise the UN chief regularly on accelerating global action and ambition to tackle the worsening climate crisis, said reports.
The other members include climate activists Nisreen Elsaim of Sudan and Ernest Gibson of Fiji and young economist Vladislav Kaim of Moldova.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik congratulated Soreng for her selection.
“Congratulate Odisha's Soreng Archana on being chosen in UN Secretary-General’s youth advisory group on climate change. Glad to see our young leaders taking lead roles in combating climate crisis. Wish her the best, tweeted the Chief Minister.