Ranjani Prabhakar is a climate policy leader, city planner and musician, frequently combining her worlds to advocate for community-driven climate solutions and spur action that heals our relationships to each other and the planet. She is the songwriter and front-woman of the indie band Lil Idli, a pop outfit that uses the power of music to inspire regenerative climate action and get closer to the question, “what do we owe one another on a warming planet?”
On the policy staff at Earthjustice, Ranjani develops and implements federal legislative and regulatory strategies at the intersection of climate and agriculture, and in advancing equitable climate resilience solutions. She has a track record of building a diverse expanse of partnerships and leading coalitions to advance policy goals and environmental justice priorities. Prior to joining Earthjustice, Ranjani served on the sustainability team at the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office, where she worked on various policy initiatives and programs in the energy and mobility spaces. At the Mayor’s Office, Ranjani helped launch the City’s first community solar initiative, renewable energy challenge program, and micro-mobility pilot program.
As a city planner, Ranjani has spent a number of years working in transportation, economic development, and housing. Prior to her work at the City of Chicago, Ranjani worked as a transportation planner and engineer, focused on building data-driven tools to reduce traffic congestion and emissions, and integrate sustainable mobility solutions. She received her Master’s in City Planning and Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and her Bachelors in History, Political Science, and German Studies from Emory University.