TERI Hosts Innovate4Environment National Camp as Young Innovators Showcase Climate Solutions

TERI and WMG, University of Warwick bring together youth, experts and global partners for two days of prototypes, dialogue and collaboration at TERI Gram under the Global Collaboration Grant of Climate Skills Programme led by the British Council and HSBC

Gurugram, 28 October 2026: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) concluded the Innovate4Environment (I4E) National Camp, held on 27–28 October 2026 at TERI Gram, Gwal Pahari, Gurugram. The two-day event brought together 60 young changemakers from 16 states across India to present climate-focused prototypes and social action projects before a panel of jury members, environmental experts and partner organisations.

The National Camp marks the culmination of Innovate4Environment: A UK–India Youth Skills Programme, delivered by TERI and WMG at the University of Warwick under the Global Collaboration Grant of Climate Skills, led by the British Council and HSBC. Over the programme cycle, 115 young participants took part in six hybrid workshops held in Delhi, Guwahati, Bengaluru, Goa and Bhopal. The workshops covered a variety of themes: renewable energy; biotechnology, microbiology and sustainable agriculture; waste management; communication, participatory methods, project management and technical skills; data analytics; and ecology, environment and climate change.

Platform for youth-led climate innovation

The camp opened on 27 October with an inaugural session featuring welcome address by TERI and an overview of the UK–India partnership by WMG, University of Warwick and a reflection on the I4E journey by youth delegates from Year 1 and Year 2. The I4E Poster Exhibition showcasing the Social Action Projects undertaken by these 60 young changemakers was launched as well. The Social Action Projects were evaluated by a jury comprising Dr Kamna Sachdeva, Joint Director-Academics, Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University; Ms India Palmer, Assistant Professor, WMG, University of Warwick; and Dr P K Bhattacharya, Director, Knowledge Resource Centre, TERI.

Day 1 also included a keynote on youth, sustainability and global citizenship, a panel on reimagining higher education through internationalisation, and thematic World Café sessions led by I4E delegates. Speakers included representatives from various organisations, Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), University of Warwick, TERI School of Advanced Studies, Arc Ed Tech. Participants then toured TERI Gram for an immersive session with sustainability experts.

Speaking on Youth, Sustainability and Global Citizenship, Dr Livleen K. Kahlon, Director, Environment Education and Awareness (EEA), TERI, said, “Permanence is found not in staying the same, but in the endless capacity to change, adapt and renew.”

Day 2 featured discussions on the social entrepreneurial journey and the intellectual property landscape, as well as a panel on how innovation, skills and sustainability can build a workforce ready for green jobs. Speakers included representatives from various organisations, Anushri Gupta & Associates, Kavi-The Poetry Art Project, Leap of Love Foundation, Skill Council for Green Jobs and ESRI, joined by I4E delegates sharing their own experiences.

A UK–India partnership for change

On the UK–India youth skills partnership, Ms Anu Thampi, Senior Manager, Education Programmes, British Council India, noted, “As young people achieve success, it is important for them to stay connected to their roots, share their journeys, and give back to the communities they have worked with. Platforms like I4E encourage young people to network, collaborate, and co-create solutions for a more sustainable future. Bringing together youth representatives from 16 states is a significant achievement, creating opportunities for diverse perspectives, cross-learning, and collective action.”

Regarding cross-cultural collaboration, internationalisation of higher education and the value of the partnership with TERI, Ms India Palmer, Assistant Professor, WMG, University of Warwick, shared, “Partnerships bring together diverse perspectives, ideas and opportunities. They do not diminish individual contributions; rather, they build on them to create a greater collective impact. I hope I4E continues to be a platform that empowers young people through collaboration.”

In the valedictory session, winning teams were felicitated by Ms Anu Thampi, Senior Manager, Education Programmes, British Council India; Dr Livleen K Kahlon, Director, EEA, TERI; Ms Taru Mehta, Associate Director, EEA, TERI. The winners are:

From Year 1 as part of Climate Skills Seeds for Transition India:

• First Position: Prem Siddharth R, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Second Position: Jasmine S Ammanagi, Jyothi Nivas College, Bengaluru, Karnataka
• Third Position: Bistrina Saikia, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam

For Year 2 as part of Innovate4Environment- Climate Skills Global Collaboration Programme:

• First Position: Shubham Singh, National Institute of Fashion Technology, Gandhinagar
• Second Position: Jeet Ambre, Somaiya School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Mumbai
• Third Position: Anneasa Manna, Footwear Design and Development Institute, Kolkata

Consolation Prize:

• Sumit Digambar Raje, Government College of Engineering, Chandrapur
• Ekaansh Arora, University of British Columbia, Canada
• Shilpi Sharma, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Delhi

The camp concluded with a vote of thanks and a visit to the I4E Poster Exhibition.