Climate Skills - Seeds for a Transition India

‘Climate Skills – Seeds for a Transition’ is a global, multi-city initiative being implemented across India, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Supported by the British Council and HSBC, and implemented in partnership with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), TERI School of Advanced Studies, Mumbai University, and HSNC University, the programme aims to strengthen youth capacities in climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. In India, the initiative engaged over 500 young participants from various states of India, as well as from Thailand and Kenya, through a series of regional workshops held across Goa, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Delhi, and Guwahati. These workshops focused on the module of Grounding, Growing, Discovering and sustaining on climate change and adaptation mechanisms, empowering youth to become active agents of change and environmental stewards in their communities.

Each regional workshop combined experiential learning, leadership exercises, and problem-solving approaches:

• In Goa, featuring TERI’s Dr Dipankar Saharia and NIT Goa’s Prof OR Jaiswal, the programme was launched with a focus on aligning skills with purpose-driven climate action.
• In Bengaluru, youth from five southern states explored local challenges such as waste management and developed actionable solutions.
• In Bhopal, interactive tools like the 'Problem to Opportunity Tree' and 'Youth Marketplace' enabled participants to translate challenges into opportunities.
• In Delhi, sessions used energizers and introspective modules to link climate knowledge with personal action. Participants designed practical, community-based responses, boosting critical thinking and problem-solving skills for a low-carbon future.
• In Guwahati, the programme strengthened regional engagement through a focus on resilience and localised solutions.

Sustainability & Leadership Camp

The programme culminated in a five-day Sustainability & Leadership Camp held at TERI, New Delhi (8–12 December 2025), bringing together over 50 selected young leaders from across India. The camp served as a dynamic platform for learning, collaboration, and innovation, covering themes such as indigenous knowledge, research methodologies, leadership, community engagement, and global partnerships.

Participants engaged in hands-on sessions, expert-led discussions, and collaborative activities, strengthening their ability to design and implement impactful climate solutions. Special focus was given to monitoring and evaluation, storytelling, and communication, ensuring that youth could effectively scale and showcase their initiatives.

The valedictory session on 12 December 2025 marked a proud moment of reflection, with Dr Dipankar Saharia, Senior Director, Social Transformation & Strategic Alliance Programme, TERI, emphasizing the vital importance of partnerships and collaboration as essential drivers of meaningful change. Ms Rittika Chanda Parruck MBE, Director of Education India, British Council, highlighted the UK India Partnerships to expand global learning for talented Indian undergraduates, emphasizing education as empowerment. Dr Livleen K Kahlon, Director, Environment Education Awareness Division, delivered the vote of thanks and emphasized ways in which Social Action Projects will help to augment students' portfolios.

Outcome

Phase II: Innovate4Environment -A UK-India Youth Skills Programme

Building on this momentum, Innovate4Environment: A UK–India Youth Skills programme has been launched under the British Council’s Climate Skills Global Collaboration Grants. This initiative brings together TERI and WMG at the University of Warwick to advance youth-led innovation and cross-cultural collaboration.. Poster

The programme will engage 130 young participants (100 from India and 30 from the UK), equipping them with green skills, entrepreneurial capabilities, and hands-on experience through interdisciplinary training, mentorship, and prototype development. It will also provide youth an opportunity to develop solutions to climate and sustainability problems, focusing on technology, innovation and a scientific mindset.

The programme is scheduled to be launched online on 29 April 2026.

Be part of this growing movement of young climate leaders.

Register here: https://forms.gle/JbKsW6dLJyrZwvpZA or scan the QR code below.