Youth of Northeast India Lead the Way on Climate Action and Green Skills
24 October 2025, New Delhi: The two-day regional workshop under the ‘Climate Skills – Seeds for a Transition India’ initiative commenced today at the Centre for Himalayan Studies, Gauhati University, bringing together youth from across the Northeast to strengthen climate knowledge, leadership, and action through experiential learning.
Jointly organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the British Council, in collaboration with HSBC, and hosted by Gauhati University as the Knowledge Partner, the Guwahati workshop—supported by Vishwa Yuvak Kendra as the Outreach Partner—marks the final edition in a series of five regional workshops being held across India. The initiative aims to equip young changemakers with the skills, confidence, and community connections needed to design local solutions to global climate challenges.
The inaugural session featured addresses by Dr Dipankar Saharia, Senior Director, Social Transformation & Strategic Alliance Programme, TERI; Dr Debanjan Chakrabarti, Director, East and Northeast India, British Council; and Dr Nani Gopal Mahanta, Vice Chancellor, Gauhati University. The session concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Dr Livleen K Kahlon, Director, Environment Education and Awareness Division, TERI.
In his Welcome Address, Dr Dipankar Saharia said, “Everything we do should consider the climate, because the future depends on our actions today. Real change happens when communities come together, and climate action is our responsibility—we must act now.”
Introducing the project and highlighting its scope, Dr Debanjan Chakrabarti remarked, “The British Council’s mission is to connect people, foster international trust and cooperation, and ultimately promote peace and prosperity. Bringing together so many young minds in this room, we are carrying forward the flame of climate transition. This work is about building the skills and understanding that climate transition is possible. Though this is the last of the five workshops, it is only the beginning of a much longer journey.”
In his Keynote Address, Dr Nani Gopal Mahanta shared, “Climate change is no longer a topic for discussion in conference halls—it is a reality we face every day. The time has come to act for the climate and embrace the spirit of the SDGs, not just in theory, but as a way of life. Even a one-degree change in temperature can have a disastrous impact on our livelihoods. Workshops like this are crucial because they make students stakeholders, not mere observers, in shaping our collective future. Let us use these two days not only to learn, but to act and turn ideas into initiatives.”
Expressing appreciation in her Vote of Thanks, Dr Livleen K Kahlon said, “SDG 17 reminds us that partnerships are essential for meaningful progress. They are not just formal arrangements, but shared commitments to a better future. When I say ‘we,’ I speak on behalf of a group, because true progress is always collective.” Throughout the first day, participants engaged in interactive sessions such as Speed Networking, Way of the Gardener, Tree of Expectation, and Power of Questions—each designed to build self-awareness, foster collaboration, and connect personal values to environmental challenges. Activities such as A Walk in Someone Else’s Shoes and Gender Box encouraged reflection on inclusivity, empathy, and shared responsibility in climate action.
A Valedictory Session scheduled for October 24 will bring together key speakers and participants to share reflections, discuss outcomes, and outline the way forward in advancing youth-led climate action in the region. The session will feature reflections and closing remarks by Dr Livleen K Kahlon, Dr Dipankar Saharia, Dr Dhurbajyoti Sahariah, and Mr Ravi Sankar Das, who will highlight the importance of collaborations between academia, institutions, and youth networks to sustain the momentum of climate leadership.
The Climate Skills – Seeds for a Transition India programme, supported by the British Council and HSBC, is implemented by TERI across five regions in India and builds upon similar global efforts in Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, and Vietnam. Following successful editions in Goa, Bengaluru, New Delhi, and Bhopal, the Guwahati workshop concludes the regional phase of the series, fostering local leadership, peer learning, and sustainable action.
The initiative will culminate in a five-day Sustainability and Leadership Camp in Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand, where selected participants will develop and implement social action projects within their institutions and communities—further strengthening a network of young leaders driving India’s green transition.
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