India’s First City Consultation Engages Youth on Climate Priorities for COP30

45 Young People in Mumbai Pledge Action for a Climate-Resilient Future

Mumbai: 45 young people from across Maharashtra recently came together in Mumbai to pledge action against the climate crisis, voicing their determination to shape sustainable solutions and contribute to India’s leadership in global climate action.

The Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN), in partnership with UNICEF India and the Sattvic Soul Foundation (SSF), and hosted by AIILSG Mumbai with support from local partners including Agro Rangers, NSS, Pratyek (NineIsMine platform), Mazi Vasundhara, and the Maharashtra State Climate Action Cell, organised the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) India 2025 City Consultation Series.

This consultation marked the launch of India’s first nationwide youth-led climate dialogue series, which will feed into the Indian National Youth Statement to be presented at COP30 in Brazil, November 2025. The statement will serve as a collective call to action from Indian youth, showcasing both their expectations and contributions to climate solutions.

The Mumbai city consultation brought together children and youth to co-develop climate policy recommendations rooted in local priorities. Through participatory workshops and expert briefings, the dialogue addressed critical issues such as floods, rising temperatures, extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, urban resilience, and water use efficiency. The discussions allowed participants to share lived experiences, propose actionable solutions, and align with Maharashtra’s State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC).

Pakhi Das, facilitator of LCOY Mumbai, said, “Each consultation aims to elevate youth and children as critical agents of change in addressing the climate crisis. The inclusive, localised sessions focus on inclusion, lived experiences, and India’s national climate priorities such as just transitions, urban resilience, nature-based solutions, and youth empowerment.”

The consultation positioned Mumbai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Patna, and Guwahati as hubs of youth-led climate engagement. Recommendations from each city will directly contribute to India’s climate priorities, with a focus on just transitions, biodiversity protection, sustainable urban planning, and youth empowerment.

Shreya Sahe, intern with Mazi Vasundhara, said, “Mumbai, with its dense population and fast-paced growth, must prioritise sustainable mobility, efficient waste management, and biodiversity protection. Combating air pollution, heat waves, and land degradation through circular economy practices and climate-resilient planning will safeguard both people and ecosystems.”

UNICEF’s Yusuf Kabir, WASH-CCES Specialist and DRR Focal Point, UNICEF Maharashtra, added, “Government of Maharashtra’s State Climate Action Plan, flagship initiatives like Mazi Vasundhara, and youth platforms such as Maharashtra Youth for Climate Action, NSS, Nine is Mine, and Green Clubs are building the right ecosystem. This is the opportune moment to integrate the Children’s Climate Risk Index into social sector planning in Maharashtra to strengthen evidence-based policies aligned with COP30 goals.”

The LCOY India 2025 City Consultations are affiliated with YOUNGO, the official youth constituency to the UNFCCC. The outcomes will be consolidated into the Indian National Youth Statement, which will feed into the Global Youth Statement and guide India’s youth representation at COP30.