Kevin J. Patel - Young Activists Are Taking On The World Climate Crisis

Kevin J. Patel is a voice for young people, channeling their stories and solutions to address and turn the course on climate change. Born to parents who were climate refugees from India, Kevin took charge in his local South Central LA community, developing community gardens to address the gross inequities of food. He noted that his community had an abundance of fast food, but nothing healthy. This is racial inequality, what he calls an injustice. Food activism was his starting point.Kevin suffered from air pollution at a young age, hospitalizing him and galvanizing his commitment to take action, then tackling the injustice of the fossil fuel industry that was extracting locally, but putting nothing back into his community that is plagued with so many injustices... a lack of trees, a plethora of highways and roads, what he calls "sacrifice zones." Los Angeles Councilman Paul Koretz gave him a voice; at age 15 he was on the podium telling his story. That led to an idling ban for vehicles. In high school, he formed the world's first environmental justice club.What a trajectory. His activism drew the attention of then Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti who formed the Mayor's Youth Council for Action, the world's first. That led to Garcetti appointing him to a similar role within the C40. Kevin became the founding member of the C40's Youth Hub. Then thanks to Gary Gero, LA County's Sustainability Officer, Kevin was appointed to the County's Youth Climate Commission. He also became a member of the US EPA's Youth Advisory Council. And when Greta Thunberg came to LA to support the LA Climate Strike, Kevin hosted her and they shared inspiration for voice and change.The conversation ends with a focus on solutions. Kevin is clear. we have the solutions. Now is the time for implementation, turning our voices to action, becoming what he calls "solutionists." He says that this is not the time for despair, but instead a time of declaration. Having completed college, he has transitioned to an intergenerational model. He recently formed Earth Era Institute... to resource activism with two new funds and to convene action with concerned citizens and experts across cultures and generations. Flanigan's Eco-Logic Podcast Episode 287, 9/7/2026🖥️ Watch: https://ecomotion.us/flanigans-eco-logic-podcast/2026-episodes/kevin-j-patel-young-activists-are-taking-on-the-world-climate-crisis/★ All episodes: https://ecomotion.us/flanigans-eco-logic-podcast © 2026 EcoMotion, Inc.