Why CLICY Matters: Empowering Youth for Climate Action

Climate change is one of the most urgent global challenges of our time, with rising temperatures, extreme weather events, floods, droughts, and biodiversity loss affecting people and ecosystems across the world at an unprecedented scale. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by nearly 43% by 2030 to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. International platforms such as UN Climate Change Conferences (COP) have repeatedly highlighted the critical role of youth participation in climate action and sustainable development.

In India, the urgency is equally significant, with increasing climate risks in the form of heatwaves, floods, droughts, and changing weather patterns affecting communities nationwide. More than 80% of India’s population lives in districts vulnerable to climate-induced disasters, while nearly half of the population is below the age of 30, presenting a unique opportunity to empower youth as innovators and changemakers. The Climate Innovators Challenge for Youth (CLICY), rooted in the vision of Ideate – Innovate – Create, seeks to transform this potential into action by enabling students to identify local climate challenges and develop practical, technology-driven solutions through mentoring, innovation exposure, and hands-on learning experiences.