Thanekar takes on “The Climate Reality”
Vidyadhar Prabhudesai (39), an entrepreneur and resident of Thane Panchpakhadi was selected to attend The Climate Reality Leadership Corps training between July 18th-26th, 2020. This was the first ever online training attended by more than 10,000 climate reality leaders across 130 countries. The training was given by Vice Presidentand Nobel Laureate Al Gore, Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Dr Rattan Lal, Distinguished Professor of Soil Science, The Ohio State University, Matt Peterson, President and CEO Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator and other eminent leaders in climate change and science domain.
The mission of Climate Reality is to catalyze a global solution to the climate crisis by making urgent action a necessity across every level of society. Founded and chaired by former Vice President Al Gore, the Climate Reality Leaders aims to be a critical mass of climate activists to sound the alarm on climate and drive a just transition to clean energy worldwide.“My first instance of climate warning came during the decade of 90swhen I was in 3rd or 4th grade. Due to heavy downpour and floods across the city, I was locked inside school premises. I remember carrying school bag only head and walking through the muddy waters for hours to get back home with help of school staff,” says Vidyadhar
With the climate crisis devastating the Earth right before our eyes and scientists warning of just 10 years to avert catastrophe, too few of our leaders are listening. “The basic planning of water management isn’t effective in our country. In few areas there are floods during monsoons, while in many other parts there are severe droughts throughout the rest of the seasons. More than 500 million people are affected every year due to draughts in India. It is also shocking to know that this bi-polarisation has resulted in increase in water related crimes with close to 900 water dispute cases reported in the country according to National Crime Records Bureau,” adds Prabhudesai,
The Climate Reality Leadership Corps is a global network of over 30,000 powerful activists personally trained by Vice President Gore comprising 140 chapters across the US and branches in 10 key countries and regions. When asked to join the network, Vidyadhar mentions “I am grateful to join such a powerful network of Climate Reality Leaders who are transforming how the world sees climate, bringing practical solutions to every sector, and creating overwhelming demand for action. I look forward to working my fellow Climate Reality Leaders from India and across the globe on a few of the pressing climate issues.” Last year Vidyadhar Prabhudesai founded Thane Hub of the Global Shapers Community, an initiative of the World Economic Forum.