Date: 22nd April – 25th April 2008.
Venue: Visthar, Bangalore, India
Organized by Global Citizens for Sustainable Development (Bangalore, India)
Supporting Partners:
China-India Forum
South Asia Youth Environment Network
Earth Charter Youth Initiative
Charter of Human Responsibilities
Friendship Foundation
There is an immediate need to articulate global efforts by both youth and adults working towards sustainability through education, to synchronize this with the global movement against climate change, to build intergenerational consensus on issues relating to sustainability and climate change. Although there is a multitude of youth and environment related networks, a concerted effort to assimilate these networks to work towards sustainability with education as a strategic tool has been missing.
The International Conference on Environmental Education held at Ahemdabad, India in November 2007 brought together individuals and representatives from various youth and environment related networks, and has effectively demonstrated the efficacy of education as a tool. Youth participants have felt the need to sustain this effort to integrate education into sustainable development. Participants have acknowledged the need to create a convergence amongst networks especially youth network into an Asian Citizens Alliance through steadfast and resolute action, in order to fight against climate change and to propagate the values and principles of sustainable development.
Taking inspiration from this common aspiration, youth from different organizations gathered in Bangalore for a workshop on ‘Intergenerational Partnerships for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation’ from 22nd to 25th April. The workshop was organized by Global Citizens for Sustainable Development, in partnership with China-India Forum and the Friendship Foundation, Hyderabad.
The objectives of the workshop were:
1. To create an Asia-Alliance for Intergenerational Partnership for Sustainability sharing common interests, on ESD and climate change.
1. To create an Asia-Alliance for Intergenerational Partnership for Sustainability sharing common interests, on ESD and climate change.
2. To define the vision, mission, goals and values of the network
3. To establish a mandate for the alliance for working towards SD through contributing to the fight against climate change
4. To create an educational guidebook on climate change, which incorporates the goals and fulfils the objectives of ESD
5. To consult various stakeholders, including civil society representatives, students and youth participants, on the content of the book
6. To solicit inputs for similar upcoming initiatives on ESD and climate change
7. To disseminate the content of the guidebook amongst stakeholders
8. To contribute to the efforts of an Asian Citizens Assembly in 2010 led by the China-India Forum through this Alliance
Day 1Session 1:
Day 1Session 1:
Causes and impacts of Climate Change:
Mr. Anugraha John representing Global Citizens for Sustainable Development (GCSD), Bangalore, India welcomed the gathering with a thought on Reflection: What is Earth Day mean to youth today? After the self-introduction of each participant, floor was open to discuss what each participant expected out of the workshop.
Anugraha John spoke on the idea behind the inception of his organization GCSD, China-India Forum and how he was working to promote the idea of Sustainable Development through his engagement with young people from Bangalore, in India, across Asia and the globe. He also spoke on his ideas on climate change and how youth have converged on global issues, and how climate change demanded collective youth response. He started a discussion on the need of Asian Citizens Alliance: an alliance for Intergenerational Partnership for Sustainability sharing common interests, on ESD, climate change and key issues where youth can make a difference in the 21st Century.
Mr. Shivalingaiah, Managing Director, Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited, started the workshop and spoke about the environmental friendly nature of renewable energy technologies and their role in helping offset emissions and mitigating climate change. He informed the participants about the different technologies in place in Karnataka and the potential that renewable energy carried in providing uninterrupted power supply and in meeting the burgeoning power requirements. He was very impressed with the youth gathering at this workshop to discuss and act on issues most relevant in the 21st century.
Mr. Vikram Aditya, Programme Coordinator, Friendship Foundation and representing the Hyderabad Climate Alliance, presented on the subject ‘ecosystem sensitivity to global warming, a tipping point’. He explained on the various drivers and processes causing climate change, including forcing effects of Green House Gases and feedback loops. He focused on the impacts that climate change would have on different ecosystems, and their sensitivity to rise in temperature.
Ms. Bhavana Kaveti, Hyderabad Climate Alliance, presented on the observed health impacts of climate change and potential impacts in future. This includes increase in frequency and intensity of vector borne diseases and episodes of epidemics, malnutrition and starvation related diseases from reduction in food grain production, stress related diseases, water borne diseases and respiratory diseases. Bhavana also discussed the findings of a project undertaken by her on prevalence of Asthma in Hyderabad, and how the disease could be aggravated because of increasing temperatures.
Session 2:
Mr. Anugraha John representing Global Citizens for Sustainable Development (GCSD), Bangalore, India welcomed the gathering with a thought on Reflection: What is Earth Day mean to youth today? After the self-introduction of each participant, floor was open to discuss what each participant expected out of the workshop.
Anugraha John spoke on the idea behind the inception of his organization GCSD, China-India Forum and how he was working to promote the idea of Sustainable Development through his engagement with young people from Bangalore, in India, across Asia and the globe. He also spoke on his ideas on climate change and how youth have converged on global issues, and how climate change demanded collective youth response. He started a discussion on the need of Asian Citizens Alliance: an alliance for Intergenerational Partnership for Sustainability sharing common interests, on ESD, climate change and key issues where youth can make a difference in the 21st Century.
Mr. Shivalingaiah, Managing Director, Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited, started the workshop and spoke about the environmental friendly nature of renewable energy technologies and their role in helping offset emissions and mitigating climate change. He informed the participants about the different technologies in place in Karnataka and the potential that renewable energy carried in providing uninterrupted power supply and in meeting the burgeoning power requirements. He was very impressed with the youth gathering at this workshop to discuss and act on issues most relevant in the 21st century.
Mr. Vikram Aditya, Programme Coordinator, Friendship Foundation and representing the Hyderabad Climate Alliance, presented on the subject ‘ecosystem sensitivity to global warming, a tipping point’. He explained on the various drivers and processes causing climate change, including forcing effects of Green House Gases and feedback loops. He focused on the impacts that climate change would have on different ecosystems, and their sensitivity to rise in temperature.
Ms. Bhavana Kaveti, Hyderabad Climate Alliance, presented on the observed health impacts of climate change and potential impacts in future. This includes increase in frequency and intensity of vector borne diseases and episodes of epidemics, malnutrition and starvation related diseases from reduction in food grain production, stress related diseases, water borne diseases and respiratory diseases. Bhavana also discussed the findings of a project undertaken by her on prevalence of Asthma in Hyderabad, and how the disease could be aggravated because of increasing temperatures.
Session 2:
Analysis of climate change training module
The draft version of a training module on climate change was presented by the coordinators to the participants. The module was targeted towards youth and community workers and educators working on climate change and sustainable development. The module not only explained the scientific basis, impacts and mitigation and adaptation measure required for climate change, but also incorporated ideas and suggestions on how sustainable lifestyles could be adopted in order to effectively reduce one’s ecological footprint and thus have a remedial effect on climate change.
Day 2
Session 1:
The draft version of a training module on climate change was presented by the coordinators to the participants. The module was targeted towards youth and community workers and educators working on climate change and sustainable development. The module not only explained the scientific basis, impacts and mitigation and adaptation measure required for climate change, but also incorporated ideas and suggestions on how sustainable lifestyles could be adopted in order to effectively reduce one’s ecological footprint and thus have a remedial effect on climate change.
Day 2
Session 1:
Youth role in climate change mitigation and adaptation
Rabindranath Biswas, Hyderabad Climate Alliance, presented on how youth are being impacted by climate change and their involvement in its mitigation. He focused his presentation on the Hyderabad Climate Alliance, a coalition of individuals and organizations interested in climate change in Hyderabad. He spoke about the evolution of the Alliance, and highlighted some of the activities that the Alliance would be undertaking in the near future.
Kartikeya Singh, from the Indian Youth Climate Network, presented on the Network, its inspiration and expectations, and discussed in depth the scope of youth involvement with the IYCN and how the network would greatly benefit youth from across the country and communicating their aspirations on climate change and networking with each other. Kartikeya also explained the idea behind starting the IYCN, which was to amplify youth voices from across India to a broader international audience
Sushant, from A N College, Patna, presented on the findings of his study on flow patterns of the Ganga river at Patna. He discussed the several changes that were observed in the flow of the river due to faster thawing of glacial ice near the headwaters of the Ganga, and its possible impacts on river delta communities residing in close by areas. He also mentioned about corrective measures being undertaken by researchers and activists to rectify the Ganga river flow through contributing to climate change mitigationAparupa Sengupta, from A N College, Patna, presented on the environmental stress of the Ganga river and the pollution in the river from disposal of solid wastes from Patna.
Scott Leroy of Pro-World India made a presentation on how Pro-World is working in Peru and other parts of the world to address Climate Change. He gave a wonderful pictorial presentation on how we can make much out of renewable energy to address climate change.
Session 2:
We had a special panel to discuss on the theme: Water and Climate Change by Shree Padre, eminent environmentalist and Rain Water expert and Dr. Bhavani Shankar who has worked as a Chief Engineer in the Water sector in India.
Shree Padre gave an inspiring talk on the importance of water conservation and proper water management that aroused all the participants and inspired them to treat water as a precious and non renewable resource. He dealt in detail with various techniques in practice across India on rain water preservation and how climate change would have a detrimental impact on water availability and accessibility.
Dr. Bhavani Shankar spoke on the relevance of being cautious of water issues in the context of Climate Change. He proposed several Mitigation and Adaptations to be undertaken in the water sector. He said we have to incorporate both traditional and modern practices to encounter issues related to water. He referred to our old scriptures, “Vasudheva Kutumbakam” meaning the whole world is one family to share its resources with equity and is akin to the Western saying that the world is a global village to share the nature’s gifts.
Session 3:
VT Padmanabhan made a presentation on Global Dimming with interesting statistics to prove changes in solar radiation and how nuclear war and weapon tests are contributing to Climate Change. He stressed on the fact that Ozone is not healing as predicted and. Global warming is hastening the ozone depletion. The hole in Arctic is likely to be as big as that of Antarctic in about two decades. This will increase the UV radiation affected the skin of about a billion people. UV is lethal to phytoplankton. This will adversely affect the capacity of the ocean sink.
Day 3
Field trip:
One of the highlights of this workshop was a field trip to the site of the first and only pro poor CDM project in India and perhaps in the world.
The project was being implemented by ADATS, a grassroots community NGO based in Bhagepalli, Karnataka, and engaged in development and rural upliftment work in nearly 600 villages around Bhagepalli. ADATS helps form Coolie Sanghas in these villages, where it helps members generate revenue through a CDM project, which aside from helping in emission reduction, earned income for the Sanghas. The CDM project involved helping villagers set up domestic biogas pits from cattle dung, generating cooking gas using methane emissions from the dung. Carbon offset from switching to biogas bas cooking from using emission causing firewood would be purchased as credits by the financing agency, and the revenue thus generated would then be returned to the Sanghas.
The participants interacted with the head of ADATS, Mr. Ram Esteeves, and learnt from him the concept of CDM and its role in sustainable community development, and how CDM was helping offset emissions and mitigate climate change. The participants shared with him their ideas of climate change and possible avenues for mitigation. Later, the participants visited the CDM project village, interacted with villagers who were beneficiaries and learnt from them about the CDM project and its benefits.
Day 4
There was a discussion on Asian Citizens Alliance with students of School of Peace doing a course at Visthar. These students are from countries/places from Lao, Indonesia, Nepal, Vietnam, Myanmar, Hong Kong, and other Asian countries. These students along with the participants of the workshop felt the need of an Asian Citizens Alliance and wanted their countries to be part of the Alliance.
On the final day, participants reflected on the different presentations and interactions of the three days. Lessons learnt from this workshop and how to improvise And most of the participant’s expectation were met and were very happy to discuss the follow up course of action.
Rabindranath Biswas, Hyderabad Climate Alliance, presented on how youth are being impacted by climate change and their involvement in its mitigation. He focused his presentation on the Hyderabad Climate Alliance, a coalition of individuals and organizations interested in climate change in Hyderabad. He spoke about the evolution of the Alliance, and highlighted some of the activities that the Alliance would be undertaking in the near future.
Kartikeya Singh, from the Indian Youth Climate Network, presented on the Network, its inspiration and expectations, and discussed in depth the scope of youth involvement with the IYCN and how the network would greatly benefit youth from across the country and communicating their aspirations on climate change and networking with each other. Kartikeya also explained the idea behind starting the IYCN, which was to amplify youth voices from across India to a broader international audience
Sushant, from A N College, Patna, presented on the findings of his study on flow patterns of the Ganga river at Patna. He discussed the several changes that were observed in the flow of the river due to faster thawing of glacial ice near the headwaters of the Ganga, and its possible impacts on river delta communities residing in close by areas. He also mentioned about corrective measures being undertaken by researchers and activists to rectify the Ganga river flow through contributing to climate change mitigationAparupa Sengupta, from A N College, Patna, presented on the environmental stress of the Ganga river and the pollution in the river from disposal of solid wastes from Patna.
Scott Leroy of Pro-World India made a presentation on how Pro-World is working in Peru and other parts of the world to address Climate Change. He gave a wonderful pictorial presentation on how we can make much out of renewable energy to address climate change.
Session 2:
We had a special panel to discuss on the theme: Water and Climate Change by Shree Padre, eminent environmentalist and Rain Water expert and Dr. Bhavani Shankar who has worked as a Chief Engineer in the Water sector in India.
Shree Padre gave an inspiring talk on the importance of water conservation and proper water management that aroused all the participants and inspired them to treat water as a precious and non renewable resource. He dealt in detail with various techniques in practice across India on rain water preservation and how climate change would have a detrimental impact on water availability and accessibility.
Dr. Bhavani Shankar spoke on the relevance of being cautious of water issues in the context of Climate Change. He proposed several Mitigation and Adaptations to be undertaken in the water sector. He said we have to incorporate both traditional and modern practices to encounter issues related to water. He referred to our old scriptures, “Vasudheva Kutumbakam” meaning the whole world is one family to share its resources with equity and is akin to the Western saying that the world is a global village to share the nature’s gifts.
Session 3:
VT Padmanabhan made a presentation on Global Dimming with interesting statistics to prove changes in solar radiation and how nuclear war and weapon tests are contributing to Climate Change. He stressed on the fact that Ozone is not healing as predicted and. Global warming is hastening the ozone depletion. The hole in Arctic is likely to be as big as that of Antarctic in about two decades. This will increase the UV radiation affected the skin of about a billion people. UV is lethal to phytoplankton. This will adversely affect the capacity of the ocean sink.
Day 3
Field trip:
One of the highlights of this workshop was a field trip to the site of the first and only pro poor CDM project in India and perhaps in the world.
The project was being implemented by ADATS, a grassroots community NGO based in Bhagepalli, Karnataka, and engaged in development and rural upliftment work in nearly 600 villages around Bhagepalli. ADATS helps form Coolie Sanghas in these villages, where it helps members generate revenue through a CDM project, which aside from helping in emission reduction, earned income for the Sanghas. The CDM project involved helping villagers set up domestic biogas pits from cattle dung, generating cooking gas using methane emissions from the dung. Carbon offset from switching to biogas bas cooking from using emission causing firewood would be purchased as credits by the financing agency, and the revenue thus generated would then be returned to the Sanghas.
The participants interacted with the head of ADATS, Mr. Ram Esteeves, and learnt from him the concept of CDM and its role in sustainable community development, and how CDM was helping offset emissions and mitigate climate change. The participants shared with him their ideas of climate change and possible avenues for mitigation. Later, the participants visited the CDM project village, interacted with villagers who were beneficiaries and learnt from them about the CDM project and its benefits.
Day 4
There was a discussion on Asian Citizens Alliance with students of School of Peace doing a course at Visthar. These students are from countries/places from Lao, Indonesia, Nepal, Vietnam, Myanmar, Hong Kong, and other Asian countries. These students along with the participants of the workshop felt the need of an Asian Citizens Alliance and wanted their countries to be part of the Alliance.
On the final day, participants reflected on the different presentations and interactions of the three days. Lessons learnt from this workshop and how to improvise And most of the participant’s expectation were met and were very happy to discuss the follow up course of action.
Outcomes of the workshop:
1. Participants exchanged ideas on climate change, its impacts across India and the world and gained a good deal of knowledge, especially with the talks from specialists
2. Participants gained new ideas on possible mitigation options available across India and the world that could be replicated
3. Participants learnt about a new facet to the implementation of CDM projects and its impact on sustainable development and rural communities
4. Participants resolved to have a national level youth summit on climate change in Hyderabad, to take these discussions on climate change mitigation and youth role forward and to create opportunities for Indian youth to represent their voice at the International summit on Climate Change.
5. To publish the Climate Change guidebook and use that for training and bringing awareness on issues related to Climate Change in India and Asia.
6. To launch a Climate Change and Water Film Festival in India and Asia
7. To launch Asian Citizens Alliance in July 2008 at the China-India-Japan Forum to be held at Tokyo to address issues not just in India but all over Asia on Social and Sustainable Development with Climate Change Mitigation as one of the key issues of the Alliance.
1. Participants exchanged ideas on climate change, its impacts across India and the world and gained a good deal of knowledge, especially with the talks from specialists
2. Participants gained new ideas on possible mitigation options available across India and the world that could be replicated
3. Participants learnt about a new facet to the implementation of CDM projects and its impact on sustainable development and rural communities
4. Participants resolved to have a national level youth summit on climate change in Hyderabad, to take these discussions on climate change mitigation and youth role forward and to create opportunities for Indian youth to represent their voice at the International summit on Climate Change.
5. To publish the Climate Change guidebook and use that for training and bringing awareness on issues related to Climate Change in India and Asia.
6. To launch a Climate Change and Water Film Festival in India and Asia
7. To launch Asian Citizens Alliance in July 2008 at the China-India-Japan Forum to be held at Tokyo to address issues not just in India but all over Asia on Social and Sustainable Development with Climate Change Mitigation as one of the key issues of the Alliance.
Participants at the workshop:
Participants ------Organization/Institution-----------City/State
Aparupa Sengupta - A N College - PatnaSushant Singh - A N College - Patna
Rabindranath Biswas - Hyderabad Climate Alliance - Hyderabad
Purnima Kumar - Hyderabad Climate Alliance - Hyderabad
Vikram Aditya - Hyderabad Climate Alliance - Hyderabad
Vijay Aditya - Hyderabad Climate Alliance - Hyderabad
Bhavana Kaveti - Hyderabad Climate Alliance - Hyderabad
Anugraha John - Global Citizens for Sustainable Development- Bangalore
Raju - Global Citizens for Sustainable Development- Bangalore
Rajeev Kumar - Project Agastya - Bangalore
Scott Leroy - Pro World Service Corps, India - Mysore
Stephanie Hooper - Pro World Service Corps, India - Mysore
Digu Aruchamy - CoimbatorePriyadarshini - Coimbatore
Kartikeya Singh - Indian Youth Climate Network - New Delhi
Anuradha Sapte - Global Citizens for Sustainable Development- Mumbai
Shree Padre - Kerala
Bhavani Shankar - Sahayoga - Bangalore
B Shivalingaiah - KREDL - Bangalore
Ram Esteeves - ADATS - Bangalore
S. Ramesh - Bangalore
VT Padmanabhan - Tamil Nadu
