2022 ECO-Award Winner First Place

Kehkashan Basu, M.S.M. is an iconic global influencer, environmentalist, champion of women and children’s rights, TEDx speaker, Climate Reality Mentor, author, musician, and peace and sustainability campaigner.

She is the recipient of Canada's Meritorious Service Medal and the only Canadian to win the International Children’s Peace Prize. A Forbes 30 Under 30 and the first-ever Winner of the Voices Youth Gorbachev-Schultz Legacy Award for her work on nuclear disarmament, Kehkashan is a United Nations Human Rights Champion, a National Geographic Young Explorer, a UN-Habitat Young City Champion, a UNCCD Land Hero, the Regional Organizing Partner for North America for the NGO Major Group and one of Canada's Top25 Women of Influence.

Kehkashan is the Founder-President of the global social innovation enterprise Green Hope Foundation, which works at a grassroots level in 26 countries, empowering young people and women, especially those from vulnerable communities, in the sustainable development process. She has spoken at over 300 United Nations and other global fora. She is the youngest Trustee of the Parliament of the World's Religions, the Co-Lead of the UN Women Generation Equality Forum's Action Coalition on Feminist Action for Climate Justice, the Co-Chair of the University of Toronto's SDG Student Advisory Council, Council Lead of the Toronto-St. Paul's Constituency Youth Council, Canada, and the World Humanitarian Forum Youth Council member.

She is the recipient of several awards, including the World Literacy Award for Significant Contribution to Literacy by a Young Person, Canada's Global Energy Show Emerging Leader Award, and the Pax Christi Toronto Teacher of Peace Award. She continues to work tirelessly to amplify the voices of young people, women, and girls in decision-making processes.