Youth Lead the Charge: Bengaluru Workshop Cultivates Climate Skills for a Sustainable Future
Bengaluru, September 24, 2025: The two-day regional workshop under the Climate Skills – Seeds for a Transition India initiative concluded in Bengaluru today, bringing together students and young changemakers to explore practical approaches to climate action, leadership, and community engagement.
Interactive sessions and grassroots activities equip students to turn climate challenges into actionable solutions
Organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and its academic arm, TERI School of Advanced Studies (T-SAS), in partnership with British Council and outreach partners Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, the workshop engaged participants in interactive sessions, creative activities, and reflection exercises designed to strengthen eco-centric thinking and climate-responsive leadership. It aims to sensitize and empower more than 100 young people representing Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana and Tamil Nadu on local climate issues, sustainable practices, adaptation mechanisms, and grassroots solutions.
From ‘Reflection Circles’ and group mapping activities to participatory sessions like ‘The Climate Web of Bengaluru’ and ‘Trash to Treasure: How Bengaluru is recycling its waste,’ the agenda focused on connecting climate knowledge with local realities. Sessions such as Problem to Opportunity Tree, Principles of Youth-led Action, and Vision Meditation further equipped participants with tools to turn challenges into actionable solutions.
Highlighting the importance of partnerships in youth empowerment, Ms Rashi Jain, Area Director West India and Country Business Development Lead, British Council, remarked, “We are thrilled to support the ‘Climate Skills – Seeds for a Transition India’ initiative, delivered in collaboration with HSBC, which empowers young people to become active climate leaders. By equipping students with practical knowledge, global perspectives, and the tools to drive change in their communities, this programme exemplifies how partnerships and education can shape a sustainable future. The enthusiasm and commitment we have seen in Goa are truly inspiring, and we at the British Council look forward to witnessing these young changemakers lead India’s transition to a greener, more resilient tomorrow.”
Underlying the urgency of climate action and the critical role of youth, Dr Dipankar Saharia, Senior Director, TERI, highlighted, “Climate change is no longer a chapter in a geography book – it is a lived reality. From floods to heatwaves, we are experiencing its impact every day, and the youth must be prepared to respond.”
Supported by the British Council and HSBC, the India leg of the global programme (also active in Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, and Vietnam) is being implemented by TERI along with partners such as University of Mumbai and HSNC University. The workshops will cover Goa, Delhi, Bengaluru, Bhopal, and Guwahati, leading up to a five-day Sustainability and Leadership Camp in Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand. The camp will mentor youth to design and implement social action projects within their institutions and communities, focusing on leadership, sustainability, and grassroots climate solutions.
With the Bengaluru workshop concluding successfully, the initiative continues to nurture networks of young leaders who will play a pivotal role in steering India towards a greener, climate-resilient future.