New Delhi: On International Youth Day, a symposium was organized by the Office of International Relations, Purnima University, Jaipur on the topic ‘Investing in Youth Leading Climate Solutions’. In this symposium organized on offline and online mode in collaboration with CII and Young Indians, many influential youth of the country and abroad expressed their views.

The Chief Guest of the offline session was Dr. Mamta M. Lala, Consultant Pediatrician, KB Bhabha Hospital Mumbai. He explained various aspects of the beauty of Antarctica in the context of climate change. He told that climate change is happening because of us and only we can stop it. He told that due to many special rules, the environment of Antarctica remains absolutely clean.

Omprakash Gurjar, International Children’s Peace Prize Winner and Founder of Poornima Pathshala, spoke on the topic ‘Hope is but a dream of those who wake up’. In this, he gave a message of youth empowerment and respect for people of all ages and appealed to end child labor. Sharing his life story, he told that he too had to face the brunt of child labor in his childhood, but after getting free from it, today he himself is taking the child laborers out of this quagmire. Poornima Pathshala, started in collaboration with Purnima University, Jaipur, is regularly educating children from underprivileged sections.

Julia Burbeau of Canada’s University of Waterloo, under the theme ‘Taking Initiative for a Better World’, expressed concern over the problem of clean drinking water in Canada and other countries. He emphasized the need for skill development and training for women empowerment. The speakers also spoke on topics related to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations.

This was followed by an online session. These include Mohd Bachirkamara, America’s Climate Ambassador in Africa, Dr. Ayush Bhandari from Imperial College, London, Mental Health Expert Nomvuselo Moyo, FXB Climate Expert Tehmina Supti from Bangladesh, Karina L. Weinstein, Program Strategy and Innovation Director, FXB USA INC, Dr. Mamta. M. Lala and Julia Buribeu joined. Everyone expressed concern over the problem of climate change and suggested possible solutions to it. Host Poornima University President Dr. Suresh Chandra Padhe, Pro-President Dr. Manoj Gupta and Registrar Dr. Chandni Kriplani also expressed their views. In the end vote of thanks was given by the convener of the symposium, Dr. Sudhi Rajeev.