On board for climate action: EEE student joins Prince William on Route 2030

How does a first-year EEE student end up discussing climate action with Prince William on the top deck of a London bus?

For Pranav Sharma, it was the latest stop on a journey that began years before he arrived at Imperial.

"Being fortunate enough to have avenues to amplify young people's voices, has been really rewarding. It's something I want to continue doing both at Imperial and across London."

Pranav, who has just completed his first year in the department, joined Prince William, founder and President of the Earthshot Prize, conservationist and wildlife presenter Robert Irwin, and climate activist Clover Hogan, founder of Force of Nature, on Transport for London's 3,000th electric bus to talk climate action and the role young people can play in creating change.

Route 2030 marks the halfway point of the Earthshot Prize's 10-year mission. Travelling through a city already embracing lower-carbon transport, the discussion explored how proven climate solutions can gain the recognition, backing and momentum needed to make a lasting difference.

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A seat at the table – and on the bus!

Pranav’s invitation came through four years of championing sustainability as a member of the Transport for London (TfL) Youth Panel. He became its youngest ever volunteer at 15, wanting to challenge what he saw as a familiar story: young people who care deeply about climate change, but feel they have few opportunities to influence it.

In the last four years, he has helped lead London's first youth-led sustainability inquiry with City Hall, presenting recommendations to more than 100 TfL senior executives, and strengthening young people's representation in decision-making at TfL.

"The Route 2030 interview was really, really inspiring," Pranav said. Despite the serious subject, the discussion was light-hearted – with Robert Irwin and Clover Hogan both Australians, there was plenty of "good-natured Australia-London banter". "It was a very down-to-earth conversation. We all come from different backgrounds, but we're tied by our shared passion and love for giving back to the people and places around us." 

Getting on board with climate action

"Seeing first-hand how people across London are mobilising reminds me that climate action is a pulsating movement, driven by each of us who choose that making a difference is more than just a thought."

Pranav believes one of the biggest challenges is helping young people feel that they can make a meaningful difference.

"One of the reasons I chose to join the Youth Panel was to change the narrative. So many of our generation turn to apathy and indifference about issues we once cared about deeply because of a perceived lack of avenues and a perceived lack of change."

After the interview on the bus, Pranav attended the Earthshot Prize Impact Assembly alongside leaders from government, business, philanthropy and international organisations, including the Mayor of London and the UN Secretary-General.

The experience reinforces his optimism: "Seeing first-hand how people across London are mobilising reminds me that climate action is a pulsating movement, driven by each of us who choose that making a difference is more than just a thought."

"Being able to help shape that narrative, that change is in each of our own hands, and being fortunate enough to have avenues to amplify young people's voices, has been really rewarding. It's something I want to continue doing both at Imperial and across London."

This summer, Pranav will continue that work overseas through Imperial's Laidlaw Scholarship, taking part in a climate action project.

"I'm so grateful to the Imperial community. I don't think there's a better place in the world if you want to make a tangible difference with science and technology on the ground, and I look forward to what's next."