Green Terre Foundation launches youth engagement in Pune
Green Terre Foundation says that youth from MIT World Peace University mounted a street campaign to create awareness about the inadequacy of actions
On the day that the Climate Change Summit, COP28 began in Dubai, Pune-based environmental NGO Green Terre Foundation mounted a campaign to enhance public awareness on the serious impacts of climate change and how every person can contribute to keeping the planet safe.
In a press statement, Green Terre Foundation says that youth from MIT World Peace University started a street campaign to create awareness about the inadequacy of actions. The statement adds that about 30 students from MIT WPU participated in their own Climate Change Summit, COP28, not by delivering speeches but by communicating the powerful message of Net-Zero goal that most of the common people remain unaware of. The students targetted busy and landmark areas in Pune to for creating public awareness.
“The action on climate has to start on the roads where people are on the move. Neither these people, nor climate crisis have now time for negotiations, declarations, summits and speeches. Youth in the universities are simply creating a roadmap for climate action on the streets,’’ says Rajendra Shende, Founder Director of Green Terre Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation.
The statement adds that inspired by the Prime Minister’s Mission LiFE, youth displayed day to-day impactful practices on green and clean energy and efficient fossil fuel usage, elimination of single-use plastics, water conservation and energy efficiency linking to reducing carbon footprint. It says that the messages were meant to spark on-ground initiative, aimed not only to spread awareness but also to kickstart tangible action on Net-Zero practices among people at large.
The impact was palpable as citizens engaged with the youth, initiating conversations on sustainable practices during the red-light halts at crossings. The strategic placement of the messages at key traffic signals ensured maximum visibility, turning these intersections into hubs of brief and quick environmental consciousness.
‘‘MIT World Peace University is leading the actions where it is needed on climate for World Peace”, says Prasad Kulkarni of Sustainability Studies of MIT WPU.
The statement adds that this initiative by GTF marked the concluding apex of the month-long ‘PlanetPulse: Climate Month 2023’, which engaged 150 campuses nationwide launched on October 31 and continued throughout November. It claims tbat campuses across India have embraced the movement, with 10,000 students engaged in promoting the impactful Net-Zero actions.
