Bhubaneswar, 10 August (H.S.) : Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati on Monday called upon the state’s youth to take the lead in climate action, green entrepreneurship and sustainable development, emphasising their crucial role in building a resilient future.

Addressing the inaugural session of the Odisha Conference of Youth (OCOY 4.0) at XIM University, Jatni, the Governor urged young people to move beyond being passive stakeholders and become active architects of climate resilience.

“Odisha does not merely need young people to inherit its future; it needs them to build that future,” he said, reiterating his call for youth-driven solutions to environmental challenges.

Highlighting the growing impact of climate change, Kambhampati noted that extreme weather events such as heatwaves, erratic rainfall, floods and cyclones are increasingly affecting agriculture, livelihoods and food security. He stressed that climate action is not just an environmental concern but a responsibility towards human dignity and future generations.

The Governor encouraged youth to explore green entrepreneurship opportunities by converting waste into value, promoting renewable energy, advancing sustainable agriculture and generating employment while protecting the environment.

Referring to Odisha’s experience in disaster management and conservation, he said the state must go beyond preparedness and focus on building inherently climate-resilient communities. He cited several youth-led initiatives across the state, including plantation drives, seed-ball campaigns and environmental awareness programmes, as examples of grassroots action making a difference.

Emphasising sustainable living, he highlighted the importance of the 3R principle—Reduce, Reuse and Recycle—and Mission LiFE as key to embedding sustainability in everyday life.

Kambhampati also called for a “Mission 30 by 30” initiative, urging young people to mobilise climate action across all districts of Odisha by 2030 through a blend of local knowledge and modern technology.

Linking sustainability with national priorities, he underscored the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and promote electric mobility to strengthen India’s energy security. He noted that even small behavioural changes, when widely adopted, can contribute significantly to sustainable development.

The Governor encouraged participants to utilise the three-day Youth Parliaments and district-level dialogues to develop actionable solutions and emerge as ambassadors of sustainability and climate resilience.

The event was attended by XIM University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Fr. K. S. Casimir SJ, Nexus Select Trust General Manager and ESG Ambassador Harsha Bharda, UNICEF Odisha Chief Prashant Kumar Dash, Sambhav Co-founder Sabarmati Apa, and other dignitaries.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda