rePurpose Global CEO Set to Launch Diversity Petition at Inaugural Nobel Prize Summit

GOA, India–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#ColorForClimate–Climate change has quickly risen to the top of our global agenda, but mainstream dialogue still excludes those bearing the brunt: young people of color. A global campaign seeks to radically improve diversity in the climate movement. Svanika Balasubramanian, 24-year-old Indian-Omani environmental innovator and rePurpose Global�s CEO, will address the inaugural Nobel Prize Summit on April 28th introducing a radical, 8-point agenda to tackle this critical gap.

Featuring dozens of Nobel laureates, experts, and world leaders including Ursula von der Leyen, the Dalai Lama and Dr. Fauci, this year’s Nobel Prize Summit: Our Planet, Our Future will explore solutions to some of humanity’s greatest challenges and define a path towards a sustainable future. On this world stage, Svanika will emphasize the need to amplify diverse voices and launch the Color For Climate Petition and its demands aimed at the movement’s most influential stakeholders.

The upcoming summit presents a momentous opportunity, “I am honored to be a part of the first Nobel Prize Summit. I see it as a pivotal moment for young, passionate innovators to lead the conversation on our planet’s future,” says Svanika, co-founder of the world’s first plastic credit platform.“The unfortunate reality is, at many other summits I’ve spoken at, I have often been the only young person of color at the podium.”

Oxfam’s recent report finds that the world’s wealthy 1% produces more than double the carbon emissions of the bottom 50%, yet climate change negatively impacts youth, women and minorities in developing countries significantly more than it does others. This massive gap isn’t easily bridged, but elevating voices from marginalized communities of color is a necessary starting point.

As a key demand in the petition, Svanika calls for international environmental organizations such as WWF and Greenpeace to create a first-of-its-kind Reality Seat on their governing boards. The seat will be occupied by people of color below 35 years who represent the concerns of communities closest to the environmental issues these organizations address.

The petition also appeals to COP26, the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in November, and ensuing climate negotiations for balanced representation within their organizing committees and expert panels. Currently, COP26 is garnering criticism from activists for having only one woman among its senior leadership.

As an Indian-Omani woman, Svanika’s unique experience shapes her perspective on diversity in the climate movement. Along with her co-founders, she is fostering an inclusive culture at rePurpose Global, the only plastic credit platform founded entirely by young people of color. Headquartered on the shores of Goa, India, Svanika’s venture is constantly transcending barriers to include new voices through 100+ purposeful brands, impact projects across the Global South, and most importantly, 30 passionate employees from 11 countries who average at just 26 years old.

“From the landfills of Mumbai to the corporate headquarters in New York, my team and I have traversed across the world to build a global coalition of people and companies dedicated to empowering environmental innovators.” In the run-up to the Summit, she says, “Diversity has been absolutely integral to our venture’s success. It’s about time that we add some color to the climate movement as well.”

About rePurpose Global:

rePurpose Global is the world’s first plastic credit platform dedicated to making planetary action accessible for purposeful people and companies of any size, anywhere. Today, its one-stop solution empowers anybody to create systemic environmental change and go Plastic Neutral by financing innovators on the frontlines of fighting for the planet’s future.

Contacts

Noah Godfrey

noah@repurpose.global