Young people in developing countries are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of climate change due to their limited coping capacity. In India, the proportion of working-age people has been steadily increasing since 2010. It is projected to continue until 2056, with India having the largest share of working-age people globally from 2021 to 2052. There is a clear lack of data and conversations about the impact of climate change and the benefits of moving towards a net zero future.
Young people across the country will benefit from a net-zero alignment in various sectors, providing them with opportunities that can improve their quality of life.
To address these challenges, #ZeroSeHero (ZsH) was an initiative by Youth Ki Awaaz that sought to create a youth-focused pathway towards a just and inclusive net zero future for India. By amplifying the voices of young people and providing platforms for them to demand better climate action, ZsH ensured that the net zero conversation was not limited to elite circles and was accessible to the youth.
The Opportunity
Among the 10,000 16–25-year-olds surveyed in ten countries, including India, almost 70 percent said they were either extremely worried or apprehensive about climate change. Young people across the globe have, in various capacities, started organising various climate-change-related concerns to work for positive development and a healthier environment in their different circles, such as family, community, and civil society.
However, the impacts of climate change on youth issues like access to education, employment, and health have received less attention than steps with short-term actions such as tree-plantation drives.
Identifying and building vocabulary on the effects of climate change on sectoral impact is essential to prevent massive challenges in the future. The absence of a space that convenes stakeholders to have this dialogue is imperative to make evidence-based and well-informed decisions at the local, state, and national levels.
The Impact
#ZeroSeHero was an initiative by Youth Ki Awaaz to help create a public and policy dialogue on India’s need to transition from fossil fuel to clean energy while protecting vulnerable communities and promoting economic growth.
- The initiative engaged with stakeholders from parliamentarians, policymakers, think tanks, academia, and youth working on ground zero to raise awareness, empower citizens, and advocate for continuous policy change through public facing dialogues in-perosn and on social media through #PolicyParCharcha.
- ZsH started by creating first of its kind policy products, including three national packages. These covered critical aspects of how India can become a climate hero through a just transition, how we can reduce the human cost of climate change, and the concerns of jobs, growth, and aspirations in a just transition and detailed state-specific information packages for Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal, and Karnataka.
- ZsH also created effective packages to disseminate information about India’s long-term strategy for climate change that was unveiled at the COP27. Read here, here and here.
- ZsH has directly engaged with over 20 decision-makers, citizen activists, researchers, and business representatives to democratize knowledge and build vocabulary around Net-Zero in India.
- ZsH was also launched as a public social media campaign to create awareness among young people across the country, reaching an audience of over 3 million people.
- The initiative has conducted over ten capacity-building workshops such as this one reaching over 350 people, on climate change-related aspects to impart practical knowledge and skills to young people and organizations.
- The initiative also organized two in-person # PolicyParCharchas, where climate change leaders addressed critical questions on ways forward. Read here, here and here.
- On the ZsH plank, YKA also investigated the intersection between Climate Justice and Digital Rights through a unique workshop to understand and scope the landscape.
- YKA’s strong community brings their local lived experiences through research and reporting, creating spaces for discussions and solutions.
- ZsH’s climate correspondence program and the community’s active engagement on social media platforms demonstrate the belief in creating opportunities for change and a better future.
- As an extension to the ZsH campaign, YKA partnered with the National Institute for Urban Affairs and the Ministry of Urban Affairs to draft a framework for youth-led climate action.
While #ZeroSeHero wrapped up by achieving its goal with India’s commitment to net zero and the release of the Long term strategy at the Cop27. YKA continues to work on the broader range of climate change issues, empowering young people to take steps and centering the need for a just future for all.