Youth Climate Conclave 2025 Empowered Young Changemakers for Sustainable Climate Actions

New Delhi, 04 March 2025: The Youth Climate Conclave (YCC) 2025, organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in collaboration with the Delegation of the European Union to India, reaffirmed its role as a premier platform for engaging young minds in climate action and sustainability. YCC is supported by the India-EU Clean Energy and Climate Partnership (CECP) project, managed by the Delegation of the European Union to India. TERI leads the implementation of this collaborative initiative. As part of TERI’s ongoing efforts to empower youth and advance climate leadership, the three-day event brought together young climate advocates, experts, and policymakers in an engaging and action-oriented forum focused on sustainability and climate resilience.

TERI and the Delegation of the European Union to India hosted an immersive platform for youth-driven climate solutions

The event commenced with an educational field trip to TERI Retreat in Gual Pahari, Gurugram, where participants interacted with experts and explored on-field installations that demonstrated innovative environmental solutions. This hands-on experience provided insights into renewable energy, water conservation, and sustainable development practices, setting the stage for deeper discussions on climate action.

The second day featured the inaugural session of the YCC photography exhibition, attended by Mr Tarun Kumar Pithode, Director, MoEFCC, GoI, and HE Ewa Suwara, Chargée d'affaires, Deputy Head of Delegation of the European Union to India.

Mr R R Rashmi, Distinguished Fellow, TERI, set the tone for the conclave with his welcome address. “We are taking too much from the nature and not putting it back, while we consume, we need to invest in protecting. It is important to grow and with growth comes consumption as youth are the emerging leaders of the future this conclave recognises their effort. Climate change is just not the problem, sustainability is a bigger problem that needs to be taken care of,” said Mr Rashmi.

“Climate action is not a choice but a necessity. Through this conclave we have to make others know how to act on it. India -EU has come one step forward and that gives a powerful sign of trust and friendship. Any action that you take at the very local level be at anything makes a difference because this is the step at the grassroot level. It’s not because you have to be here at the Conclave, but because you wanted to be here,” said Ms Ewa Suwara in her special address. Echoing his thoughts, Mr Tarun Kumar Pithode, said, “Climate change is a reality, the global temperatures are rising, and we are all getting affected by it in some way or the other. Youth is the most essential part of this climate action, we need to collaborate, we need to cooperate, we need to come together and when we come together then only, we can find solutions to these global problems.”

Ms Komal Tiwari from Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, shared her journey as a YCC alumnus, and distinguished guests launched the YCC Case Story (e-publication). “We believe in the 5Rs – we refuse harmful practices, we reduce waste, we reuse what we can, we repurpose creatively, and we recycle diligently. By giving back to nature as much as we take, we pave the way for a sustainable future,” remarked Ms Tiwari. Dr Livleen K Kahlon, Associate Director, TERI, delivered the vote of thanks.

The event continued with interactive sessions featuring panel discussions, keynote speeches, and exclusive one-on-one engagements with Climate Fresk experts, policymakers, and youth leaders. Participants honed their skills in workshops focused on climate innovation and sustainable practices and actively took part in competitions, including debates, photography challenges, and innovation showcases. The conclave provided valuable networking opportunities, allowing youth to connect with mentors and organizations committed to driving climate action. A key highlight was the showcase of youth-led initiatives, where inspiring young changemakers presented their success stories and collectively drafted a ‘Youth Pledge’ to be presented at the World Sustainable Development Summit 2025.

YCC 2025 culminated with a Valedictory Session where Dr Dipankar Saharia, Programme Director, Social Transformation & Strategic Alliance, TERI, said, “As we move towards Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), one thing is clear that youth are at the center stage of this transformation. We at TERI realise that platforms like Youth Climate Conclave are curated to engage with the voices of our young citizenry to make a sustainable impact on our society.” Mr Bartosz Przywara, Counsellor, Energy, Climate Action, Environment, Delegation of the European Union to India in his concluding remarks and way forward said, “We have two roles - one in everyday life wherein we can cut down on fast fashion and opt for more sustainable choices and one in professional life by which we can reduce the impact of climate change.”

The official presentation of the Youth Pledge will happen during the plenary session of the 24th edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2025, ‘Achieving Sustainable Development through Integrated Action.’