The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), in collaboration with the British Council and HSBC, inaugurated the Sustainability and Leadership Camp today at TERI, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The five-day camp, organized under the Climate Skills: Seeds for Transition India project, brings together young participants from across India to engage in hands-on learning, leadership development, and capacity-building activities focused on climate action and sustainability.
The Climate Skills: Seeds for Transition India project is implemented by TERI, TERI School of Advanced Studies (T-SAS), University of Mumbai, and HSNC University. The initiative aims to nurture a new generation of climate-aware youth who can contribute to equitable, grassroots-level climate action. The programme aligns with the British Council–HSBC global initiative, which is also being implemented in Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, and Vietnam, to support fair, inclusive, and future-ready transitions toward sustainability.
The inaugural session set the tone for the week-long engagement. Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General of TERI, delivered the welcome address, emphasizing the urgency of climate action and the pivotal role of youth. She remarked that this generation is the first to be fully impacted by climate change and that their ideas will play a crucial role in shaping India’s transition. She encouraged participants to recognize the importance of individual actions, saying that every small effort contributes to a larger change, and highlighted that sustainable living does not mean giving up comfort but integrating responsibility into daily life.
Following the welcome address, Dr Dipankar Saharia, Senior Director of the Social Transformation and Strategic Alliance Programme at TERI, spoke about the importance of partnerships in skilling and youth empowerment. He noted that India’s climate goals for 2030 and 2070 can only be achieved if today’s youth actively participate and share their knowledge with their communities. He emphasized that climate action requires collaboration between organizations, communities, and youth, and that solutions need to be tailored to diverse regional contexts.
Representing the British Council, Mr Shannon West, Deputy Director India and Area Director North India, delivered the special address, highlighting the global significance of climate literacy and youth engagement. He emphasized that climate literacy equips young people with essential skills to participate meaningfully in the transition to a sustainable future.
Through the Climate Skills: Seeds for Transition India project, the programme seeks to nurture curiosity, creativity, and collaboration, empowering young leaders to convert climate ambition into practical, locally grounded action while remaining globally informed. The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by Ms Taru Mehta, Associate Director and Senior Fellow at TERI’s Environment Education Awareness (EEA) programme, who reflected on TERI’s long-standing commitment to environmental education and experiential learning.
The first day of the camp included a rich lineup of thematic sessions. Dr Dustin Lalkulhpuia conducted a session on Indigenous Knowledge as Climate Leadership, exploring ethics, ecology, and sovereignty from Northeast India. Mr Shubham Rai led an icebreaker session to help participants build rapport and identify shared motivations. Mr Aryaman Tewari conducted a hands-on workshop on research methodology to strengthen foundational skills for evidence-based climate action.
Ms Nupur Awasthi facilitated a leadership development session titled Discover the ‘Leader’ in You, and Dr Livleen K. Kahlon delivered an evening session on Youth, Sustainability, and Global Citizenship. These sessions collectively provided participants with a strong grounding in climate justice, indigenous knowledge systems, research skills, and values-based leadership.
Over the next four days, the camp will feature thematic mentorship in areas such as ecology, sustainable agriculture, waste management, renewable energy, geospatial data, and project management. Participants will also present their ideas through poster presentations and an Ideas Gallery, gain insights on COP30 outcomes and their implications for youth, and take part in workshops focused on fundraising, community action, team diversity, and communication for impact.
The camp will conclude with a valedictory session featuring representatives from TERI, the British Council, and UGC. The Sustainability and Leadership Camp promises a week of learning, collaboration, and innovation, equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to play an active role in India’s sustainable development and climate action efforts.
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