1)What is the idea behind a design university focusing on sustainability?

The Fellowship for Climate Action is established to design solutions to counter climate change, and there is no better place to do so than a university focused on design thinking. Moreover, the Fellowship is hosted by Anant National University which is on its way to entirely eliminate single use plastics from its curriculum and day to day campus life. Our mission is to create a community of climate change trailblazers who work together and cross-pollinate each other’s solutions to mitigate climate change, with ideas and expertise, across sectors, regions, and generations.

2) How do you think the courses on Climate Action prepares the young talent to play key roles against climate change?

Each of the six terms of the Fellowship focuses on a deep dive in to a specific technical skill ranging from carbon accounting, to mitigating environment footprint in industry, to policy practice, to preserving natural resources. Besides the technical aspect, the curriculum includes classes in leadership skills and offering personalised coaching. 75% of the classes will be held at locations where solutions for climate change are being implemented and at locations that are hard hit by climate change. Faculty will include reputed Indian and international academics and practitioners. A crucial aspect of the Fellowship is mentorship. Our board of mentors include the pioneers who have founded and lead the biggest solutions for climate change today in India and internationally. Fellows will interact and learn from these mentors.

3) What will be the career opportunities available in climate

change-related courses?

At the end of the Fellowship, all Fellows will be placed on key leadership positions in the climate change industry.

4) Are there any union policies that encourage youth to adopt these kinds of courses?

Inclusion of awareness about climate change in education curriculum is still at a nascent stage in India. The National Action Plan on Climate Change and the National Education Policy have stated the need for increased international cooperation in R&D and transfer of technology in education to tackle climate change. The National Research Foundation too will consider funding mega projects which utilise technology to develop climate change solutions.

Internationally we see growing interest in including climate change in pedagogy, but here too there is lot more progress to be made. In fact, I co-lead the Global Alliance on Climate Change and Education that came out with a framework to include climate change awareness in school curriculums, that was then launched at the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai in 2017.

5) How has been your experience working for the environment with the help of sustainable factors?

In contemporary discourse in the world there is a glaring lack of perspective on climate change from emerging economies where we struggle with feeding and providing shelter to our people while also suffering the consequences of climate change. Further, the ways in which climate change affects us in India is different, from say Europe, and the ways in which we can mitigate it will have to be different. This is why the Fellowship is aimed at filling these gaps by presenting a realistic perspective on climate change in emerging economies, as well as by powering up the big solutions from emerging economies to mitigate climate change.

6) What would be your point of view to individuals to contribute to reducing climate change?

The Fellowship for Climate Action is shaping the next generation of climate leaders. If anyone is serious about contributing to solutions for climate change they should apply for the Fellowship now.

7) On a concluding note, based on your robust industry experience and knowledge, what message do you want to put across to the Readers/investors/professors/Deans/students?

The impact of climate change will be more astute for today’s youth than it has been for their parents. They need to know about the solutions for climate change and be part of implementing the solutions, else it will lead to massive levels of climate anxiety and feeling of helplessness, besides the destruction of the planet. Educating the younger generation about solutions, equipping them with technical skills to implement the solutions, and giving them opportunities to be part of the solution, plays a strong role here.