As part of the Climate Skills – Seeds for Transition India project, we recently concluded a five-day Sustainability and Leadership Camp, organised by one of our country partners, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), from 8–12 December 2025 in New Delhi.
TERI had previously completed all their cascade trainings with the conclusion of five regional workshops held across India: New Delhi – North India, Bengaluru, Karnataka – South India (Deccan Plateau), Goa – West Coast (Konkan region), Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh – Central India, and Guwahati, Assam – Northeast India (Brahmaputra Valley). Over 500 young people participated in these regional workshops. From this cohort, 48 participants were selected for further mentoring and action planning during the Sustainability and Leadership Camp.
Following the regional workshops, participants submitted project ideas they plan to implement as part of their social action initiatives under the Climate Skills programme. The team then shortlisted the top 50 ideas and mapped these projects to identify knowledge requirements from both environmental and project management perspectives, ensuring participants received tailored support for each initiative during the five-day camp. Based on the themes of their projects, participants were assigned mentors with whom they worked closely on the finer details and will continue to engage during the implementation of their social actions.
The 48 participants, representing 15 states of India, brought diverse perspectives and experiences to the camp. The programme offered a rich blend of multidisciplinary approaches, designed to hand hold students through project implementation, combining technical guidance with leadership development.
The inaugural session set the tone for the week long engagement. Mr. Shannon West, Deputy Director India and Area Director North India, delivered a special address that underscored the global significance of climate literacy and youth engagement. He later returned on day three to boost the spirit of the emerging climate leaders during the showcase session. Dr. Vibha Dhawan, Director General of TERI, delivered the welcome address and Dr. Dipankar Saharia, Senior Director, Social Transformation & Strategic Alliance Programme, TERI, spoke about the importance of partnerships for skilling and the role of youth empowerment in driving sustainable change.
On day one, following the inaugural session, Dr. Dustin Lalkulhpuia, recipient of the British Council 90th Anniversary Research Fellowship, kickstarted the camp with his session on “Indigenous Knowledge as Climate Leadership: Ethics, Ecology, and Sovereignty from Northeast India.” Dr. Dustin shared valuable insights on traditional ecological wisdom from Northeast India, integrating community-based practices into climate action, and designing initiatives that are both scalable and locally relevant.
Day three of the camp was particularly significant, dedicated to a showcase of all 48 project ideas. These were presented to senior representatives of the British Council and the British High Commission, outlining a roadmap for the social action initiatives participants will undertake post camp.
Over the five days, the camp offered:
• Thematic mentorship on ecology, sustainable agriculture, waste management, renewable energy, geospatial data, and project management
• Poster presentations and an Ideas Gallery showcasing youth innovations
• Insights on COP30 outcomes and implications for youth
• Workshops on research methodology, fundraising, community action, team diversity, leadership development, monitoring & evaluation, and communication for impact
• A valedictory session featuring TERI and British Council leadership
The camp witnessed active participation from the leadership teams of both the British Council and TERI, along with senior representatives and external experts from esteemed organisations, who contributed through powerful sessions.
Ms. Laura Aylett, Head of Climate and Energy, British High Commission, attended the showcase of all 48 project ideas and conducted a session on Climate Reflections: The focus of UK government in India.
Ms. Rittika Chanda Parruck MBE, Director of Education India, British Council, attended the Valedictory Session where she emphasised education as a powerful tool of empowerment and wished participants success in their upcoming social action initiatives. Dr. Livleen Kaur Kahlon, Director, TERI, aptly summed up the five‑day camp by reflecting on the collective power of youth, collaboration, and knowledge to advance a fair, inclusive, and greener transition for societies.
The 48 emerging climate leaders are now gearing up for their social actions, which will last between three to six months, depending on the initiative. To support delivery, each initiative requiring monetary assistance will be provided with nominal funding to enable successful implementation of their social action projects.