Prasiddhi Singh
At just 12 years old, Prasiddhi Singh will walk into the Grand Palais in Paris not as a tourist, but as the youngest keynote speaker at the prestigious ChangeNOW Summit -- a global platform where climate solutions take centre stage. Based in Tamil Nadu, this young environmentalist has already planted over 1.5 lakh native saplings, every one of them part of her dream to grow ten million trees. With her signature mix of quiet determination and youthful clarity, she’s planting change.
Speaking exclusively to Mathrubhumi, Prasiddhi shared her journey, her thoughts on climate action, and what it means to represent young changemakers from India and around the world on such a prominent global stage.
Representing young voices on the global stage
When asked about how it feels to be the youngest keynote speaker, Prasiddhi said, "It feels amazing, I must say. It’s a unique responsibility to represent young people, children, and the creative voices who do not get the chance to be represented at such platforms". For her, speaking at the ChangeNOW Summit -- which hosts over 30,000 delegates from more than 140 countries -- is not just an honour but an opportunity to highlight on-ground action happening in India.
She has previously been the youngest national speaker at the G20 and the youngest head of delegation at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Azerbaijan. Yet, the excitement for this event in Paris is special. "It’s a huge platform where over a thousand solutions will be discussed. It is definitely an honour to have the opportunity to represent so many different voices on that global stage and especially to represent India.”
Family, friends and the power of support
Prasiddhi shared that her parents were thrilled when they learned she would be delivering the keynote. “They told me how proud they were and how happy they felt that I received such a wonderful opportunity. They said they believed in me and knew I had the power to do it,” she said.
Her school, Mahindra World School, also showed immense support. “My teachers, friends, principal -- they were all genuinely happy. I’m trying to echo their voices too, through my work and presence at the summit”, she added.
Managing school and global responsibilities
Balancing academics with a global advocacy role is no easy task, but Prasiddhi manages it through discipline and support. “Time management plays a vital role,” she explained. “My school is very supportive, and even with my travel and speaking engagements, I make sure I regularly attend school”, she said.
Interestingly, her work outside the classroom feeds into her learning. “What I do helps me learn a lot more, and I’ve consistently received A+ in all subjects,” she said proudly.
What she hopes to share with the world
At the ChangeNOW Summit, Prasiddhi plans to focus on two deeply personal themes -- young leaders for change and preserving biodiversity. These aren’t just broad talking points but core to her vision and work.
She said, “Because today, as we face the sixth mass extinction, I feel that protecting our planet and its resources is more important than ever. That’s why I’ve planted over 1,50,000 trees in collaboration with schools, villages, corporates, farmers — everyone. And all of them are native, indigenous species to support biodiversity.”
India’s biggest environmental challenge right now? Our ‘ATTITUDE’
While issues like deforestation, pollution, and poaching are serious, Prasiddhi believes the deeper challenge lies in how people view the environment. “Before we even understand how beautiful nature is, we’re told about climate change and problems. First, we need to build a bond with our planet, to value its resources and truly love nature. Changing our attitude towards the climate and our lifestyle is what we really need to focus on,” she remarked.
She also stressed the importance of collective action across all levels of society, from individuals to institutions. She said, “This needs to happen at every level -- individual, corporate, community, and government. More than the environmental challenges, it’s our attitude towards them, the greed we hold, and how we view things that truly need to change.”
Why did she focus on attitude?
Her clarity on why the attitude needs to change comes from her vast experience mobilising over 80,000 people across 20 countries. “I’ve done more than 1,000 awareness sessions and workshops,” she said. Whether it is the Ministry of Tourism Brazil, the Ministry of Environment of India, Government of Tamil Nadu, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), United Nations, or village panchayats, she’s interacted with diverse spectrum of stakeholders.
In all these conversations, a pattern emerged. She said, “Some people don’t believe climate change is real, others don’t know how to help, and some prefer blaming others,” she said. “All of this ties back to mindset. That’s why I focus on action and awareness”, she added.
Facing doubt as a young girl
When she began her journey, not everyone took her seriously. “At six, I set a goal of planting one lakh trees,” she said. “During a plantation drive, someone even asked me, ‘Do you even know how many zeroes are there in one lakh?’ That stayed with me.”
Despite doubts, she stayed motivated. “I always believed in the power of 1%. Even if one out of a hundred people joined me, that was a success.” With that philosophy, she kept going.
She recalls fondly her experience with Mathrubhumi at MBIFL 2025. “It was such a pleasure to be there and meet so many authors,” she said.
A new mission: Ten million trees
Prasiddhi’s long-term goal is planting 10 million trees. To support this, she launched her first illustrated children’s book, Prasiddhi’s Amazon Rainforest Adventure.
The book is set in the Amazon and highlights biodiversity, rainforest ecosystem, indigenous communities and nature conservation through storytelling. “It’s available on Amazon and Flipkart. Each book contributes to three tree plantations,” she said.
She has also been selected for the Women for Change at ChangeNOW Summit at the Grand Palais in Paris, which includes 25 women changemakers from across the globe. “I will be the youngest among them, representing India and young girls creating change”, she said proudly.
Connecting with changemakers through social media
Prasiddhi has used social media as a tool to build a global network of young leaders. “I’ve connected with changemakers from the US, Indonesia, the Netherlands, France, and more. We collaborate, share ideas, and learn from each other.”
She also runs a series on Instagram called A to Z for Climate Action. “Instagram is often seen just as an entertainment platform, but I see it as a medium to spread awareness,” she said. “I don’t spend much time on gadgets, but I use them intentionally -- to show the beauty of nature, not just the crisis,” she commented.
Looking ahead: Green pillar and COP30
Alongside her NGO, Prasiddhi Forest Foundation, she has started a climate education platform called ‘Green Pillar’. “It’s a social enterprise for spreading environmental literacy among people. The platform offers courses on ESG, community service, climate, leadership programs for young people, consultancy for corporates and certifications for different stakeholders”, she said.
She is also building a new community called the Green Pillar Global Tribe. “It’ll bring together like-minded people -- changemakers, journalists, entrepreneurs -- to collaborate on sustainability. We’ll launch new nature-based projects and community engagement programmes in May,” she shared.
Looking ahead, she is gearing up for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil this November, where she will participate as an official impact maker.
Nature as her teacher
When asked who inspired her most, Prasiddhi smiled. “There are many people -- from a child receiving a sapling to a farmer smiling at a tree plantation. But nature itself has been my biggest teacher.”
She recalled a moment that shaped her thinking: “I once saw a bee pollinate a flower and the flower gave nectar to the bee. That was my first lesson in collaboration. So these small learnings and observations from nature is what has motivated me and really inspired me”.
A message for young people
Prasiddhi encourages every young person to believe they can make a change. “First, believe in yourself. Once you do, the world will also believe in you,” she said. She advises children to use their unique talents -- be it art, music, or writing -- to contribute to social or environmental causes.
“If you like painting, use it to raise funds for a cause. Change begins with what you love,” she said. She’s also approachable to those who want to get involved. “Reach out through my website -- Prasiddhi Forest or Green Pillar. I’m always happy to help.”
Her dream team of changemakers
When asked who she would invite to join her mission if she could choose any three people, living or dead, Prasiddhi paused for a moment before thoughtfully naming Sylvia Earle, Jane Goodall, and Rosa Parks. “Sylvia Earle is a true ocean explorer. Jane Goodall’s work as a primatologist and anthropologist is legendary. And Rosa Parks -- through one act -- started a movement,” she explained.
She added that Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, former President of Mauritius and a renowned scientist, is already on the advisory board of the Prasiddhi Forest Foundation. Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and a strong advocate for the environment, has also supported her work -- Prasiddhi recalled with excitement how she got the opportunity to present her book to Robinson. Actor-environmentalist Dia Mirza have also supported her mission. “But the final three I’d invite would be Sylvia, Jane, and Rosa,” she concluded.
From planting trees at six to launching a global education platform, Prasiddhi Singh is proof that age is no barrier to creating real, lasting change. With passion, clarity, and compassion, this 12-year-old is not only transforming landscapes -- but also mindsets.
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