Indian Youth Climate Network

1. Indian Youth Climate Network

2. About IYCN The Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN) is a network of young people in 18 states uniting Indian youth who are concerned about climate change & environment issues. IYCN encourages young people from different parts of the country and various backgrounds to join the network, meet more young people, form friendships and work together to spread awareness and implement solutions. Started in 2008, IYCN was registered as a society in 2009 and today the network has members in 18 states of the country. IYCN has chapters in different states with outreach to thousands of youth in colleges, schools, corporations and institutions in India. The purpose of IYCN is also to bring the voice of Indian youth on the global platform as South Asia is one of the most vulnerable regions affected by potentially catastrophic climate change and environment issues. IYCN provides technical, financial and administrative support to increase youth participation in protection of environment of India as well as establish consensus on what role India should play in the global debate of Climate Change.

3. Why Youth? Indian Youth Climate Network 51% of India’s population of over 1 billion people is under 25 years and two-thirds under 35 years. We’ll be the ones living here in 50 years time to bear the consequences of the actions taken & not taken by today’s leaders on climate change. IYCN brings the youth message to those who need to know and crucial information to them on climate change, sustainability and their role.

4. Why IYCN? Indian Youth Climate Network IYCN has members spread across 18 states of India through: • The programs such as Great Power Race, Regional Youth Summits, Agents of Change • The chapters formed in locations such as Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ludhiana, Bilaspur, Vellore, etc • The network partner organisations consisting of region-specific NGOs and grassroots social activists • Eminent personalities of the environment and climate change field endorsing and supporting work by IYCN IYCN has “informed youth” as its leaders and program members who have been: • Following environmental & climate change policies and making recommendations at state, national and international platforms • Running campaigns aimed at public awareness mobilising & informing thousands of Indian citizens while making guinness records and receiving awards • Implementing on-ground projects in waste management, renewable energy to rural areas, lake clean-ups, herbal medicinal gardens

5. IYCN’s Focus Areas: 2011 Indian Youth Climate Network IYCN has members spread across 18 states of India through: • Waste Management • Forests and Biodiversity • Policy Intervention: Waste Management & Water • Knowledge Centre • Campaigning • Youth Empowerment for Climate Change Action • Bridging the Gap between Urban and Rural Youth • Network Building to harness network’ strengths

6. IYCN Activities in 2010 Best Eco Club Prize to IYCN, Chhatisgarh Encouraging Sustainability in Mining: Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad Chapter IYCN has teams in different states organising projects and activities to introduce sustainability through young people

7. Great Power Race: India, China, & USA Great Power Race was a competition between college campuses of India, China & USA for setting up clean energy projects on or off campus. Run in collaboration with 350.org, CYCAN China and Energy Action Coalition USA, the competition was won by IIT Delhi in 2010.

8. IYCN Programs: Eco Audit India Eco Audit India program has 50 young Indians trained by a global environmental consulting company to do audits of corporations to assess the impact of their operations on environment. A report is submitted at the end of the audit with recommendations and a second audit is done after 6 months.

9. Solutions Fairs for States of India Jenab Omar Abdullah Chief Minister, J&K IYCN members in discussion with a scientist in J&K IYCN’s 1st Solutions Fair in Jammu & Kashmir saw young members of IYCN working closely with FCIK (chambers of commerce of J&K) and Ministries of Environment, Culture & Tourism, J&K government for 2 days to brainstorm and come up with recommendations for the environmental management of the state. Parallel to this, there was a fair in which clean-tech companies showcased their products & services which are beneficial for the environment of J&K.

10. Waste Management Kids Making Posters in Chamba The Shack on trek to Manimahesh • Mountain Cleaners in Himachal Pradesh organising a waste management and clean-up project at Manimahesh pilgrimage site August – September 2010. • Community Waste Management program is also going on in Bangalore

11. 10/10/10 & IYD COP 16 Delegation 350 Day of Action 10/10/10 Demand for Emissions Reduction IYCN Delegation for COP16 Mexico

12. Rural Climate Fellows, Madhya Pradesh Rural Climate Fellows project in which 5 women are trained on climate change & environment issues make visits to 35 villages to inform them on issues & solutions such as water conservation, forest protection, and organic farming as well as government schemes that could be of use to them.

13. Youth Summits Youth Summits are organised for each region – North, South, East, West to bring the youth together from the states of that region to learn, network, make projects and form chapters. The youth summit on climate change for East India region in September 2010 saw participation of 60 youth from West Bengal, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and North-East. The 3-day residential summit was hosted near Sunderbans where the participants saw and learnt various solutions such as renewable energy, waste management, vermicomposting, etc. There were experts from universities and research centres to take workshops for the participants.

14. IYCN Activities in 2009 • Climate Solutions Road Tour • Rural Energy Project • Badlaav 2009 • Days of Action • Stand Up and Take Action (Oct 16) • Int’l Day of Climate Action (Oct 24) • Agents of Change 2009 • ACT NOW! Climate ke liye Bajao music concert • COP15 Vigil camp • Continuous workshops and college fests

15. Climate Solutions Road Tour TTravelling 200 km/day in solar plug-in electric cars plus solar-biodiesel bus CChennai, Vellore, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, Goa, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Jaipur, Delhi JJanuary 5, 2009 to February 4, 2009 TThe team has documented ground breaking climate solutions, across every sector and many states.

16. Rural Energy Project • MGR Nagar, Perur Block, Coimbatore • Out of the 54 houses in the village, only 4 homes had access to electricity and there are only 3 street lights for the whole village. • IYCN partnered with Shanti Ashram, a well known NGO, to distribute Solar Lanterns under Micro Finance • The Project was the first of its kind where youth, industry and a local NGO came together

17. Badlaav 2009: Youth Summit • 200 Youth from across the country participated • Plenary session by experts and eminent people such as: • Rajendra Singh • Shyam Saran • Bill Mickkiben • Knowledge Based Workshops on various themes such as solar, waste, peace • Skills Based Workshops such as using Community Radio • Creative Sessions such as theatre workshops

18. Days of Action (Oct 16 and 24)

19. Agents of Change at UNFCCC Negotiations • Engaging youth at the national and international level on the policy advocacy around Climate Change and the UNFCCC process • 2008 – 6 young people from 4 cities attended COP14 at Poznan, Poland • 2009 – 20 delegates from 13 cities of the country were selected through a nationwide application process and taken to the Conference of Parties 15 on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Denmark. One member represents Maldives in negotiations • 2010 – More focus on domestic policy. 8 delegates going to COP16, Mexico

20. ACT NOW! Climate ke liye Bajao • Music concert in New Delhi demanding urgent action to protect vulnerable Himalayan ecosystem. • Gathered support for the Indian delegation to COP15 conference in Denmark and Vigil Camp in India. • Popoular artists such as Mohit Chauhan, Indian Ocean, Advaita, Sarangi Funk, Ankur Tewari & The Ghalat Family played in the concert hosted by VJ Gaurav Kapur. • Held in the heritage site of Qila Rai Pithora in December 2009.

21. COP15 Vigil Camp • Connecting the grassroots voices to COP15 through live weblink on IYCN website • Collaborative effort of many CSO’s across the country – camps in Delhi, Hyderabad & Chennai • Better engagement with politicians and between activists • Aimed at raising the awareness levels of the general public about UNFCCC and COP as well as demand a successful deal in Copenhagen.

22. IYCN Organisation Structure No Hierarchy Only Coordination IYCN Society (8 Members) Steering Committee (3 National Coordinators) Documentation & Administrative support Technical support from Knowledge Centre Advisory support from Mentors City Chapters

23. IYCN has partnered with.. • German Embassy, New Delhi • GIZ • 350.org • United Nations Development Program (UNDP) • Environmental Defense Fund • SEEDS India • Centre for Environment Education (CEE) • Global Coalition for Climate Action (GCCA) • Climate Action Network - South Asia • Infosys • Moser Baer • Reva electric car • WWF India, Hyderabad

24. IYCN Team National Coordinators: • Supriya Singh supriya@iycn.in • Neha Sinha neha@iycn.in • Kabir Arora kabir@iycn.in Contact Info: Web: www.iycn.in Blog: whatswiththeclimate.org IYCN has 7 offices in India: 1. New Delhi 2. Bangalore, Karnataka 3. Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh 4. Jaipur, Rajasthan 5. Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh 6. Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh 7. Chennai, Tamil Nadu