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The shift to a cleaner energy economy wont happen overnight, and it will require tough choices along the way. But the debate is settled. Climate change is a fact. Former US president Barack Obama 03 LEADERSHIP Greenprint For school students have come out with solutions to tackle climate change. It’s time to walk the talk and care, not just dare, they say... T hey proved to be an ir- resistible force that cannot be stopped by the season of exams, elections or any other fever. Eighteen finalists of THE TIMES OF INDIA YOUNG CHANGE LEADERS were ready to trou- bleshoot the problems faced by the world owing to the cata- strophic climate change. From why they would board an eco-friendly airline to how schools need to col- laborate with larger firms to pro- pel the cause, the audience felt the ‘Greta-like enigma’ every- where, as students offered solu- tions one after the other. The winners — Vrinda Arora and Taru Satija — promised to carry forward the green pledge. Arora said this platform has re- inforced her voice and now she plans to seriously work upon so- lutions. AKSHYOBHYAA VENKATESH, class 7, Prudence School, Dwarka AKSHOBHYAA VENKATESH class VII, Prudence School, Dwarka On how climate became a priority On Nov 4, 2016, Delhi had its first smog attack. It changed my priorities. I realised we usually find a way out or create an excuse for everything. We should look at solutions. I propose The aviation industry is responsi- ble for 2% of carbon emissions the world over. As per the Department for Business, Energy and Industri- al Strategy (UK), flights produce 133 gm of carbon footprint (emissions per passenger per km travelled) while trains produce 41 gm. If I have to travel, I will try to opt for a train journey or go for an eco-flight. MISSION: To fly an eco-friendly airline that uses bio fuel. Alaskan airlines, KLM and Jet Blue are options. In India, on Aug 27, 2018, Spice Jet ran a pilot project from Dehradun to Delhi. So, India is ready for eco-flights. We can reduce the guilt of fly- ing if we support eco-friendly airlines. Do some research and find out if you can reach a destination via an airline that uses bio jet fuel. SAMIYA MANN, class IX, GD Goenka, Rohini Hydrogen can be used as a source to emit energy. Automobile indus- try needs to work on this. PRANIT BANERJEE, class VI, Birla Vidya Niketan, Pushp Vihar VRINDA ARORA class VI, Tagore Int’l, Vasant Vihar I propose What’s important is the need to thrive for a better life, not merely show and glow. Growing consumerism is eating the future, getting people to buy things that do not improve their lives. We just crave to own them. Extinction of a species is related to high consumption of luxury items. We need an ‘eco-conscience’ now. It’s high time we stopped supporting consumerist culture. TARU SATIJA, class IX, The Air Force School, Delhi Cantt I propose It is not just the problem of my generation. It is everyone’s problem. Our forefathers have pre- served nature, we too are enthusiastic about taking steps, but the knowledge and resources are with them and therefore, we need to unify to find common ground. We can’t fight climate change unless we come together and find solutions, instead of blaming each other. . MISSION: Why can’t we ban plastic like Rwanda did? If 8 mn people go to restaurants and refuse plastic straws, imagine the impact it would have. It is about putting priorities in order. On 3Rs and its impact on economy Global population is estimated to be around 9 bil- lion by 2030, put- ting increased pressure on finite resources. No economy can be called sustainable if it chooses to exploit all its resources at once. AVIKA SINGHAL, class VI, British School I propose Countries like the US, Chile, China, and European nations have made a shift from take, make, dispose in the near economy model to reduce, reuse, recycle in a circular economy model. This helps in saving our resources and promotes steady growth. MISSION: India should adapt more to electric cars. Economy and environment must go hand in hand. Both should get equal priority and not offset each another. On polluted rivers In India, rivers are called ‘maiyya’ (mother). Going by this theory, shouldn’t we be treating our rivers with respect? NAMAN SONPAR, class VI, The Shriram Millennium School, Noida I propose Convert river banks to bio di- versity parks. The government should boost sewage treat- ment plants and ensure that they are functioning properly. MISSION: Convert our rivers to tourists spots, as in Singapore, where parks and river cruis- es, bring in money. PRIYAL JAIN, class IX, Ahlcon Int’l, Mayur Vihar I propose We are doers, sufferers, but not ideators. We are a young country with a median age of 28.4 years. If all schools and colleges put up a task force, and make it a part of their holiday home- work, to clean the Yamuna, and encourage students to develop hydraulic devices, the untreated waste can be treated in an economical manner. MISSION: Many unauthorised factories dump waste into rivers, so we must come up with ways to dispose it. Disposing waste goods in rivers is a strict no-no! On why Greta inspires her a lot Am glad that Greta Thunberg united us schoolkids and brought up this topic. We have the solutions in front of us, all we need is col- laborative action. ADIB KHAN, class IX, DAV, Sector 14, Faridabad I propose If I were given the environ- ment cabinet, I would work in three phases. Phase I would involve adding people and organisations who have formulated productive usage of paddy straw, thereby cur- tailing burning crops to a large extent. Phase II would involve streamlining the monstrous traffic issue. There would be green traffic days. In Phase III, polluting industries would be pe- nalised while their green counterparts rewarded. ANUSHKA LAL, class IX, Loreto Convent, Delhi Cantt I propose Dear grownups, we have watched you with pride as you developed better tech- nology, but pride has given way to de- spair as you chewed up the Earth’s resources and left us at the edge of a precipice. People have to stop checking this greed. Serve more, buy more, eat more, waste more, wear more, throw more... has to stop. In this ‘more’ conundrum, we have forgotten where we come from. MISSION: Firms put exorbitant price tags on products and consumers mindlessly buy them. Even natural products are marketed with steep pricing. When we scale down and sim- plify, big will not be the best. Live simple, clean and natural. We need to focus on “shared responsibility” and ask for collaboration between the government and non-state actors to fund collective action. We need to mainstream the dialogue around environment. SUCHISMITA MUKHOPADHYAY Associate Director, WWF-India It is important that there is an intra-gen- erational approach to tackle environment issues. Temperatures are rising across the world – and it’s happening now. We need the previous and current generation to work together to solve the problem. We must deliver a message of hope and inspiration, rather than just focus on doom and gloom. CHANDRA BHUSHAN, CEO, iForest I loved the presentations by the Young Change leaders. They made our generation realise we have to work together. Thank you Times NIE for taking up this burning topic.” IRA KHANNA, Principal, DAV Public School MISSION: Make people eco brand ambassadors of a country. This would also make people accountable for their actions. MAYANA AGARWAL, class VI, Pathways School, Gurgaon I propose Greta Thunberg cannot go to every country and deliver environment speeches. We are her representatives and must push this message across generations in our country. 18 TOI YOUNG CHANGE LEADERS MEET Make it pan-India. Make it a green Oscar. Ensure the talk translates to action and, as the stu- dents suggested, it is time the govt, non-state actors and citizens come together to build a sustainable future.” DEEKSHA KHERA, Principal, DPS, Mathura Road Change cultural notions like a car is a sta- tus symbol. Opt for a bicycle or just walk. PARTH AHUJA, class VI, Indraprastha World School If the older generation can opt and live well with- out plastic, why can’t we? Live natural. OJASVI MATHPAL, class VI, Pragyan School Impose fines on civil and commer- cial constructions flouting rules. S RADHIKA, class VII, Salwan Public For dust pollution, we should add sprinklers to our clean-up trucks. MANAS KAPUR, IX, Shri Venkateshwara Int’l Start a non-cooperation drive against those who litter in nondesignated spots. BHUMIKA ASWAL, class VIII, Rukmani Devi Control the immense growth of industrialisation and real estate growth in coastal zones. PAKHI DASWANI, class IX, Convent of Jesus and Mary I propose a system change and this generation can be the catalyst for it. NAMYA LAKHANPAL, class IX, DPS, Noida Times NIE thanks the 3,067 students who took out time to send in their videos. We also thank the principals from Delhi/NCR for contributing to the event. It is important that this forum transcends to something larger. These are brilliant ideas that should now become a reality. NAV AGARWAL, a Class VI student, The Shriram School, Moulsari; climate change activist, and the youngest expert on the panel Photo: GETTY IMAGES Photo: GETTY IMAGES MISSION: To start living within the means of nature. If there is one product I wish people would cut down on is cellphones. I would want to banish cell- phones from my life, not bow down to peer pressure.
