Know your carbon footprint? How this 19-year old girl became a climate changemaker and a winner of the Times Ecopreneur Award 2025

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The Times Internet Ecopreneur Awards shine a spotlight on the innovators, entrepreneurs and changemakers who are turning sustainability from an aspiration into action. At a time when climate conversations are often dominated by alarming statistics and distant targets, the awards celebrate individuals and organisations delivering practical, scalable solutions to some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. From clean technology and circular economy models to community-led conservation efforts, the initiative recognises those proving that meaningful change is possible when innovation meets purpose. Among the standout winners, Prachi Shevgaonkar’s journey is particularly inspiring. Her work demonstrates how climate action can move beyond boardrooms and policy discussions, empowering ordinary citizens to make tangible contributions towards a greener, more sustainable future. Charting an Unconventional Course

6 May 2026 | 16:56

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Initially enrolled in an engineering programme, a 19-year-old Prachi took a massive leap of faith. She dropped out, to make a career that matched her drive for environmental advocacy. This led her to Pune’s Symbiosis Centre for Media and Communication. Studying Mass Communication and Media Studies with an advertising focus, she honed the exact storytelling skills she would eventually need to rally a global audience.But before starting any grand initiative, Prachi hit the road. For a year, she went across India, recording the lived realities of farmers, waste-pickers, and the youth. Seeing shifting harvest cycles and mounting rubbish crises face-to-face showed her how climate change affects lives.Constructing Cool the GlobeEager to translate this stark awareness into tangible habits, it took 3 years to shape the framework for Cool the Globe. It’s a mobile app built to help ordinary people track and slash their own carbon footprints through straightforward, daily tweaks. Think taking the bus, cutting down on household waste, and shopping smarter.She first piloted the concept with a tight-knit group of about 200 university peers. Today, the app has a user base spanning over 110 countries, helping the public collectively strip millions of kilograms of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.In 2022, she received the Young Changemaker Award, for turning an individual mission to a wide environment network. Alongside her COP27 recognition, she made a debut on Season 3 of Shark Tank India, successfully pitching her vision to the investors. In 2024, Prachi earned a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list under the Social Impact banner.Times Internet Ecopreneur Award The Times Internet Ecopreneur Award recognises individuals and organisations that are driving meaningful environmental change through innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable solutions. The platform aims to celebrate those who are addressing the challenges and are creating a solution that will bring a long-term impact. Renowned environmental advocates, are among the jury panel that adds to the credibility of the award.By bringing together changemakers from diverse sectors, the award highlights the growing role of innovation in building a more sustainable future. As environmental concerns continue to shape discourses around the world, the Times Ecopreneur Award reminds that transformative ideas play an important role in creating positive change for generations to come. TO NOMINATE YOURSELF OR YOUR ORGANISATION: CLhttps://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toi/ecopreneur-awardsICK HERE

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