Mridula Ramesh

Indian climate activist and founder of climate action platform 'Climate Trends', pioneering grassroots environmental advocacy

Mridula Ramesh is a visionary environmental leader whose work has transformed climate action in India through innovative communication strategies. Born in 1978, she emerged as a prominent voice in the early 2000s when most climate discussions were dominated by Western perspectives. Her groundbreaking initiative Climate Trends provides localized climate data and solutions tailored for Indian audiences, bridging the gap between global climate science and local realities.

Ramesh's approach focuses on storytelling through traditional and digital media. She produced the award-winning documentary series 'Climate Stories', which features 200+ narratives from Indian communities impacted by climate change. This initiative has reached over 5 million viewers across rural and urban areas, making climate science accessible to non-technical audiences. Her India Environment Portal aggregates over 10,000 resources in multiple Indian languages, democratizing environmental knowledge.

Her advocacy led to the creation of India's first climate literacy program integrated into school curricula in Karnataka state. By partnering with UNESCO and the Indian government, she developed training modules that have educated over 10,000 teachers. Ramesh's work influenced India's National Action Plan on Climate Change, particularly in adaptation strategies for agriculture-dependent regions.

In 2015, she pioneered the concept of 'Climate Journalism Fellowships' to train 150+ Indian reporters on environmental reporting. This initiative led to 500+ quality news stories in regional media, significantly raising public awareness. Her social media campaigns using local idioms and visuals have achieved viral reach during critical climate events like COP21.

Notable achievements include:

• Developed India's first climate risk assessment tool for local governments
• Established partnerships with NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for satellite-based climate monitoring
• Recipient of the Ashden Award (2016) for climate communication

Ramesh's work exemplifies how localized strategies can drive systemic change. Her organization now operates in 8 countries across Asia and Africa, proving the global applicability of her community-centric approach.