Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in collaboration with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE) organized an event titled ‘Youth for the Himalaya: Innovate, Inspire, Impact’ today to mark the International Mountain Day 2024.
The event centered around the theme “Mountain Solutions for a Sustainable Future – Innovation, Adaptation, and Youth,” highlighted the critical role of youth in addressing environmental challenges in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). The main objective of the event was to showcase and support youth-driven innovations that contribute to the sustainability of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), catalyzing youth action on the ground. The event aimed to inspire collaboration and also showcased the transformative potential of these initiatives.
The International Mountain Day 2024 event brought together young changemakers, innovators, and stakeholders from across the country to present and discuss sustainable solutions for the Himalayan region. School students, youth representatives from premier institutions as well as members from the private sector, civil society, and government, participated in this hybrid event. Participants from both the Himalayan region and Delhi NCR explored and collaborated on sustainability-driven innovations, bridging perspectives between mountain communities and urban centers. This vision alignes with the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) movement launched by Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi. Mission LiFE encourages individuals to adopt sustainable practices and become ‘Pro-Planet People’ through collective and individual
Highlighting the significance of youth participation, the event provided a platform for young minds to share innovative approaches to address challenges in the rapidly evolving developmental landscape of the Indian Himalayas. The discussions integrated traditional knowledge with modern technological advancements, emphasizing sustainable livelihoods, waste management, eco-tourism, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience.
The event also featured the screening of short films and videos produced by NIHE and IUCN, including “Promoting Conservation of Threatened Plant Species in the Western Himalayas” and “Himalayan Futures: Voices from the Ground.”
Youth engagement in such events is crucial for promoting early awareness and nurturing a sense of responsibility towards environmental conservation. Engaging young minds encouraged proactive participation in discussions and actions related to climate change and sustainability. By fostering collaboration between diverse stakeholders, International Mountain Day highlighted youth leading the charge in conservation and sustainable development of mountains.
Sh. Jigmet Takpa, Vice President of Integrated Mountain Initiative and former Joint Secretary of the ministry and senior officers of ministry were present on the occasion.
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