Interview With Vivek Venkatram: A Voice For Climate Change

Climate change is a pressing issue that deeply concerns many countries, particularly today’s youth, who recognize its potential impacts on both mental and physical health. In order to mark Education Day at COP29, UNESCO has selected 5 five inspiring youth leaders from around the world to discuss reimagining education as a catalyst for future change. These leaders were chosen for their contributions to climate change, education reform, and sustainability. One of these inspiring young minds is Vivek Venkatram from Singapore and we are excited to interview him about his significant impact in this field. Before that, let’s take a moment to read a brief overview of Vivek’s biography, highlighting his personal journey and remarkable achievements.

About Vivek Venkatram:
Vivek is a final-year Philosophy, Politics, and Economics undergraduate & Fellow at the University of Warwick who strongly believes in the power of institutional impact. During his time at Warwick, he has hosted and interviewed world leaders – including José Ramos-Horta (President of Timor-Leste & Nobel Peace Laureate), Samir al-Rifai (former Prime Minister of Jordan), and Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei (former Vice-President of Egypt & Nobel Peace Laureate). He recently added another achievement to his accolades by becoming a UNESCO Youth Representative for the GEM Report. In this role, he will speak alongside Priya from UNESCO during the 5th Annual Climate Action Day, scheduled for November 7, 2024.

The past year, Vivek played an active role in shaping discussion forums as a COP29 Partnerships Officer at Generation Climate Europe (Europe’s largest youth climate coalition), Talks Coordinator of WES (Europe’s largest student-led forum), an elected representative of the Warwick Sustainability Forum, Coordinator of Plant Based Universities Warwick, Founder of the Warwick Alt Protein Project, 1 of 24 Youth Fellows of the International Youth Think Tank, and 1 of 3 undergraduate Fellows of the Warwick International Higher Education Academy. He will also be engaging in COP29 as a UN Youth Delegate. 

During the pandemic, Vivek co-founded a Temasek-backed grocery app network to support elderly & low-income households. He’s also had previous experience in procurement consulting, investment, and policy internships at Air France-KLM, Bayer, & the Ministry of Foreign Affairs respectively.

Vivek’s work on the climate crisis and social impact has been featured on the BBC, the Straits Times, and through several national TV interviews. In his free time, Vivek enjoys discussing current affairs, is an avid fusion percussionist and a hiking enthusiast. Join us as we take a look at Vivek’s journey through his personal experiences, academic pursuits, and active involvement in shaping a sustainable future through knowledge and social advocacy.

Interview with Vivek on His Personal Life, Career, and Climate Change Advocacy

Q 1. Please tell us about your educational journey at the University of Warwick and the key lessons you have learned?
A: My time at Warwick has been filled with academic and personal growth opportunities. Studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics has allowed me to examine global issues from an interdisciplinary angle, and my experiences beyond the classroom have been equally formative. Speaking with Vice President of Egypt, Dr. ElBaradei – while moderating the Warwick Economics Summit (WES) 2023 –  I learned of the immense impact global institutions leverage. During my time at Warwick, scaling impact has become my North Star — whether as a Fellow & Student Project Officer at the Warwick International Higher Education Academy, Youth Fellow of the International Youth Think Tank, Talks Coordinator of the Warwick Economics Summit, or as a Coordinator of the Plant Based Universities Warwick campaign. 

One of my most valuable lessons has been the importance of seizing opportunities around you and viewing setbacks as redirection. This approach guided me in leading Warwick’s Plant-Based Universities campaign – where we aimed to transition university catering toward plant-based foods – contributing to global dialogues on food reform, and applying to opportunities that will develop myself. I’d recommend checking out “Opportunities For Youth”. 

Most importantly, take a moment to pause and appreciate the beauty of the natural world. While the climate crisis can feel existential and overwhelming, it’s crucial to prioritise self-care first and foremost. If you give too much without attending to your own well-being, you may find yourself depleted and unable to contribute effectively. By grounding myself in a supportive personal network and continuously prioritising alongside my academic commitments, I’ve generally been able to focus on meaningful work, cherish time with friends & family, and filter out unnecessary distractions. 

Q 2. You participated actively in the discussion forums at COP29 Partnerships Officer for Generation Climate Europe, the largest youth climate coalition in Europe. Could you elaborate more about your involvement in this forum?

As COP29 Partnerships Officer with Generation Climate Europe (GCE) – the continent’s largest youth coalition – I’m working to bridge partnerships between youth, policymakers, and fellow civil society organizations prior to COP29.

As a climate negotiator, I will support the COP29 strategy priorities of GCE in light of the anticipated discussions at Baku surrounding the New Collective Quantified Goal mechanism. On a personal level, I will advocate for more equitable climate financing, put forward reforms to plant-based food systems, promote the findings of UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report on climate education, and call for the phase-down of fossil fuels to be included in the final text at Baku.

In the spirit of building a climate-conscious Warwick community, I plan to share my insights on innovative public and private sector solutions that address the gaps identified by the COP28 Global Stocktake — across climate mitigation, adaptation, and capacity-building – during the University’s Politics of Climate Change module.

Q 3. Can you outline your advocacy work in addressing climate change and highlight some of your significant achievements in this area?
A: I’m proud to have led the Warwick’s Plant-Based Universities campaign, which aimed to transition university catering toward plant-based foods. This campaign reached over 30,000 students and sparked a national conversation across multiple platforms, including BBC News, highlighting the gravity of the climate crisis and the urgency of plant-forward policy transitions. Additionally, I launched the Warwick Alt Protein Project, where I interviewed Bruce Friedrich from the Good Food Institute about alternative proteins’ role in transforming food systems, and organised a panel during the Warwick Economics Summit on the role of alternative proteins in global food reform. 

My advocacy has extended to educational reform: I shaped an interdisciplinary module on global food systems at the University of Warwick and created the University’s first model for interdisciplinary module co-creation. As a Youth Fellow of the International Youth Think Tank, I developed proposals to increase the efficacy of democratic processes as part of the 2023 International Youth Conference. I aim to bridge climate science with actionable policy and underscore the urgency for systemic reform in food systems and climate education. While most of my work centres around climate mitigation, adaptation also plays a crucial role. During the Summer of ‘23, I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and raised £3400+ for Dig Deep (Africa)’s life-saving water and sanitation provision work. 

My internship experiences have been a wonderful opportunity to further develop my understanding and engagement with climate issues. Recently, I completed my Foreign Service internship at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where I learned about Singapore’s regional climate-resilience capacity building through the Singapore Cooperation Program. As an International Stakeholder Relations intern at Bayer, I conducted quantitative & qualitative policy analysis – across World Bank, OECD & ADB databases – interpreted valuation & global financing models, and communicated regulation frameworks. I shaped the firm’s World Water Week engagements, in addition to presenting policy briefs to the International Multilateral Affairs team. Additionally, my Procurement internship (CSR, Circular Economy & Disruptive Innovations) at Air France–KLM involved me leading the intern team, analysing technical datasheets, and presenting circular economy feasibility studies to the Head of Sustainability and at the Air-France Procurement Forum in Paris. 

Q 4. In what ways do you think education can empower communities and individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to tackle climate change?
Education has the potential to cultivate climate-conscious communities by going beyond theory and fostering socio-emotional learning that connects the science with people’s lived experiences. I’ve seen the transformative impact of climate education through my work through my conversations and secondary education in the way that it activates personal responsibility and promotes climate-positive behaviour. Bridging the gap between awareness and action at the community level empowers individuals and fosters a deeper sense of climate justice. Education can instil empathy by connecting students with the struggles of those most affected by climate change, helping create a united front for equitable climate solutions.

Q 5. What changes do you believe should be made to the educational curriculum to effectively integrate climate change and sustainability practices?
A curriculum that prioritises climate literacy and socio-emotional learning is essential. Beyond teaching climate science, we need to discuss the merits of practical sustainability initiatives — like plant-forward catering, school recycling programs, and renewable energy incentive mechanisms — to empower students to act. 

Embedding sustainability into the curriculum helps students envision themselves as active participants in climate solutions, transforming what they learn into meaningful action that can ripple outward into the community and beyond. 

Q 6. What challenges have you encountered while advocating for climate change measures, and how have you addressed these challenges?
Institutional resistance has been one of the most significant challenges I’ve faced. Regarding the Plant Based Universities Warwick motion, there has been a lack of responsiveness from the Student’s Union, despite their democratic mandate to the student body. 

These experiences reinforced the value of being adaptable and resilient when driving climate advocacy – and have stressed the importance of being very pointed in one’s ‘asks’. In the coming months, we seek frequent reciprocal communication from the SU through a termly town hall meeting – open to all students and SU staff – to transparently discuss the implementation of Plant-Based Universities Warwick. Further, we will work with SU staff to align concrete plant-based provision timelines and percentages. Additionally, we look forward to connecting the SU Operations staff with resources from the global Plant-Based Universities movement – including Forward Food’s culinary experts and food suppliers who have already expressed their interest. 

Q 8. If you could give one message to the youth regarding climate change and its importance, what would it be?

I’d encourage youth to believe in the power of local action. Small steps within your community or institution can have far-reaching impacts, sometimes even sparking change on a national or global level. Find allies who are committed to driving change and keep fighting the good fight, knowing that every effort matters. Climate action may seem daunting, but persistence and collective efforts are essential to driving the change we desperately need!