Sanjay Khanna was among the first to link climate change and mental health, most notably as co-founder of Resilient People, an organization formed to address the psychological and social impacts of economic transition and climate change.
Resilient People helps organizations, communities and individuals bounce back from the drastic economic shifts and climate changes that break the common patterns in the inner workings of these groups. How, for instance, climate change, when added to economic uncertainty, might affect a political leader's ability to make optimal decisions.
Having trained with senior strategists from oil majors, financial institutions and governments on scenario-planning, Mr. Khanna has published articles, led sessions and workshops in the areas of business tactics, economic and government policy, capital flows, technology innovation and community interaction, all aimed to brace global communities for climate change impact.
With Resilient People, Mr. Khanna co-founded the world's first conference exploring climate change and ecological degradation as threats to mental health and human well-being.
Nominator: Lissa Cowan, Vancouver