Kunjal Bastola

Planet Forward Correspondent | Northwestern University

Major / Minor: Journalism, Political Science, Environmental Policy and Culture

Graduation Year: 2026

Kunjal Bastola is a junior at Northwestern University studying journalism, political science and environmental policy and culture. She was born and raised in Chicago, IL but now lives in Charlotte, NC. She grew up right next to Lake Michigan, which is where she cultivated her deep love for the water and marine life. Her parents were born and raised in Nepal, and it was the 2015 earthquake that devastated the Kathmandu Valley that really deepened Kunjal's insight into the way different communities are disproportionately impacted by environmental issues and natural disasters. She is passionate about amplifying the voices of impacted communities as the climate crisis worsens. In her free time, Kunjal loves swimming, reading, playing chess, trying out new recipes and exploring new places.