Young Minds, Green Ideas: The Rise of India’s Climate Heroes

The Young Climate Champions Programme continued to grow its impact this year, reaching a wider network of climate-conscious youth across the country As sustainability and environmental responsibility become central to conversations around India’s future, the youth are increasingly emerging as a powerful force in the country’s climate movement. With the world’s largest youth population and an average age of just 29 years, India is uniquely positioned to create a generation of climate-conscious citizens capable of driving meaningful change while contributing to the country’s economic growth and development.Recognising this potential, the 13th edition of the Earth Care Awards expanded the Young Climate Champions Programme into its second edition after the encouraging response to its inaugural year. The programme engages with young minds through specially designed workshops conducted across colleges in India. Its core objective is to identify and recognise innovative climate solutions that can be implemented and replicated to create a positive impact on the environment and local communities.This year, the initiative expanded significantly in scale and outreach, growing bigger than ever before. The movement reached across 25 states and three Union Territories, engaging more than 250 educational institutions nationwide. Through college connect initiatives, organisers worked to spread awareness about sustainability challenges and motivate students to participate in the Earth Care Awards.Some of the esteemed institutions that were part of the initiative included Delhi Technical University, Delhi; St. Xavier’s College of Arts and Science, Kozhikode; NIT, Kozhikode; IIT, Gandhinagar; TISS, Guwahati; The National College, Bengaluru; IIT, Roorkee; Hansraj College, Delhi; IIT-BHU; IIT-Guwahati; IIM-Kozhikode; IIM-Udaipur; IIT-Delhi; St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi; Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce, Pune, and many more. The response this year reflected the growing interest among India’s youth in sustainability and environmental leadership. The jury received applications from 750 students and 250 institutions from across the country, highlighting the increasing participation of educational institutions in climate-focused initiatives.The response this year reflected the growing interest among India’s youth in sustainability and environmental leadership. The jury received applications from 750 students and 250 institutions from across the country, highlighting the increasing participation of educational institutions in climate-focused initiatives. The awards recognised contributions across six key categories. These included Air Quality Improvement and Pollution Control, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Restoration, Clean and Renewable Energy Solutions, Environmental Education and Public Engagement, Sustainable Waste Management and Circular Economy, and Water Stewardship and Resource Management.Earth Day Network India was the outreach partner for the programme.At a time when climate concerns are becoming increasingly urgent, the Young Climate Champions Programme is positioning India’s youth not merely as participants in sustainability efforts, but as future leaders capable of shaping a greener and more resilient future. The JuryHarshita UmeshFounder, Vaada Hope Foundation Ananya BhattacharyaDirector, Banglanatak.com Vidya Bhushan Kumarformer Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forest Force Animesh KapoorDirector Eco Roots Foundation Deeksha Prakash SinghYoung Energy Expert and Researcher at The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Shweta DalmmiaFounder, Bharat Climate Startups Ram BhoojSenior Advisor UNEP Anuradha P DhawanSustainable Fashion Designer and Founder, Around the Des Devangshu DuttaEnvironmental Coordinator, The Satsang Foundation Rituraj PhukanClimate Reality Leader The climate is changing, and the evidence is impossible to ignore — in our weather patterns, our forests, our oceans, and in the difficult choices’ humanity is being forced to make. Yet, amid this crisis, there is hope. Across cities, villages, campuses and communities, ordinary people are stepping forward. Young women and men are not waiting for change; they are becoming the force driving it.Sangita Jindal, Chairperson, JSW FoundationClimate change is a reality that must be tackled through ideas, action and collaboration. Even Mumbai, due to its unique vulnerabilities as a dense coastal megacity faces rising sea levels, extreme rainfall, flooding and heat stress. Through the Mumbai Climate Action Plan, BMC is investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, sewage treatment, flood mitigation, green public transport, air-quality monitoring and renewable energy. But building a climate-resilient Mumbai requires collective responsibility from the government, institutions, businesses and citizens alike.Ashwini Bhide Municipal Commissioner, BMC Rajalakshmi Institute of Technology, ChennaiCategory: Climate-Resilient CampusRajalakshmi Institute of Technology (RIT) was recognised for demonstrating outstanding institutional leadership in climate action through green infrastructure, renewable energy adoption, environmental education, youth engagement, sustainable mobility, and innovative campus-wide sustainability initiatives.Rinku Pal, ABM COLLEGECategory: Air Quality Improvement and Pollution ControlRinku Pal was honoured due to his pioneering work through “Vayuveer Program”, a youth-led, community-driven initiative addressing waste management and indoor air pollution in informal settlements through hyperlocal climate action, clean cooking awareness, and sustainable urban climate resilience.Jhansi Bhupendra PullaPillai College of Arts, Commerce and ScienceCategory: Biodiversity and Ecosystem RestorationJhansi Bhupendra Pulla’s outstanding “Pollinator Highway” initiative presented an innovative biodiversity restoration model supporting climate resilience by creating safe ecological corridors for pollinators through native plantations, community participation, and low-cost sustainable design.Arnav GargIndian Institute of Technology, Delhi Category: Clean and Renewable Energy Solutions Arnav was recognised for his AI-enabled Smart Grid Intelligence Platform that enhances renewable energy integration, optimises electricity demand forecasting, and advances efficient, sustainable power management for climate-ready energy systems.Haridra BoraMiranda House Category: Environmental Education and Public Engagement Haridra’s work on climate-sensitive health risk mapping integrates climate, environmental, and community data to strengthen early warning systems and improve resilience against mosquito-borne diseases impressed the jury. Arpit KumarManipal Academy of Higher Education Category: Water Stewardship and Resource Management Arpit’s innovation, MARU® powered by METAL®, was a breakthrough maintenance-free water purification technology enabling sustainable removal of arsenic and heavy metals through climate-neutral magnetic separation systems.T.K. Devanarayanan National Institute of Technology, Calicut Category: Sustainable Waste Management and Circular Economy His proposed decentralised circular bio-refinery model transforms poultry and meat waste into biodiesel, bioplastics, biogas, and organic products, advancing climate-conscious zero-waste systems and sustainable resource recovery solutions got him the honour. Programme Outreach States covered 25 + 3 UTs Outreach 4.5 Lakh+ Entries 750 students 250 institutions Students participated 25,000 Sessions 200 Speakers 50Disclaimer - Content produced on behalf of JSW