Abhay Singh Sachal
Abhay Singh Sachal is a 21-year-old Canadian whose research and work resides at the intersection of climate change, ecoanxiety, mental health and spirituality. He is the founder of Break The Divide, a non-profit organization based on principles of environmentalism, sustainability and reconciliation that focuses on fostering empathy and understanding to inspire local action projects in communities. He created the “apathy to empathy to action” framework as he seeks to build ways in which young people can connect and learn from one another in an increasingly polarized world, allowing them to build empathy for realities that they have never faced and empowering them to transform that empathy into concrete actions that advance the creation of harmonious and abundant futures. As a result of his work, Abhay has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 25 Under 25 Environmentalists, featured as one of 10 International Youth Changemakers in Canada and listed among the 100 most influential Sikhs from around the world. He is also one of 10 advisers in the inaugural Environment and Climate Change Canada Youth Council and one of 20 advisers in the United Nations Environment Programme’s Faith for Earth Youth Council. Outside of his activism, Abhay is a student at the University of Toronto studying global health and peace and conflict studies, a public speaker on environmental and climate issues and an avid ice hockey player and pianist.