The event, organized by the SDC Foundation, spotlighted Uttarakhand's climate challenges, stressing the urgent need for local solutions driven by grassroots experiences.
Anoop Nautiyal, Founder of SDC Foundation, kicked off the session, highlighting earlier discussions with youth, underscoring that “collaborative efforts are the only way to tackle Uttarakhand’s pressing climate issues."
He pointed out the need for continuous dialogue between the state, civil society, and the public.
Vishal Singh from CEDAR minced no words, emphasizing that poor governance often worsens environmental degradation, not just climate change.
“We must hold governments accountable and push for better enforcement of environmental laws,” he urged.
Deepak Mahanta of BAIF took the discussion toward sustainable agriculture. “Climate-resilient farming is our future.
Diversified cropping and soil regeneration can create a buffer against changing weather patterns,” he said.
Waste management expert Rohit Joshi from Recykal impressed the crowd with Kedarnath’s innovative deposit return system for plastic.
“We’ve achieved a 90% recovery rate. Public awareness is the key,” he said, urging for a broader application of similar models.
Adding to the waste conversation, Ayush Joshi from IDEAL Foundation called for stricter Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws, urging companies to get serious about their plastic footprints.
“We need waste segregation at the household level, but we also need corporate producers to step up,” he stressed.
Tarun Sharma of Nagrika raised an often-overlooked issue—small cities.
"There’s a huge knowledge gap and a lack of engagement in smaller towns. Governments need to bridge that gap if we want real change,” he noted.
Mental health entered the climate conversation when Jeet Bahadur from Burans shared how erratic weather in Uttarkashi destabilizes farming communities.
“The stress of climate change is palpable. Farmers are losing their lands and minds. We need more community engagement to pressure policymakers,” he said.
Anil Joshi of Ingenious Foundation focused on how businesses need to understand the unique climate and community-oriented challenges in rural areas.
“Businesses must align their strategies with rural needs if we want sustainable growth,” he suggested.
Rounding out the session, Vaishali from UPES tackled Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).
“Protecting traditional knowledge through IPR laws could help indigenous communities innovate and scale their ideas,” she argued, also advocating for tech-driven entrepreneurship among local communities.
The session concluded with a call for continued, collective action. “This is only the beginning,” said Anoop Nautiyal as he wrapped up the event.
Experts and young attendees like Arunima Naithani, Aditi Dimri, and Kiran Rawat left with a renewed focus on pushing the climate agenda forward in Uttarakhand.
The message was clear—only by coming together at all levels can Uttarakhand hope to fight the growing climate crisis.