In a landmark move for urban resilience in the Global South, Mumbai is slated to host the ‘Mumbai Climate Week 2026’ from February 17 to 19.
This significant milestone marks India’s first city-led initiative dedicated to fostering local action through citizen-driven solutions and is grounded in the critical recognition that the climate crisis is, at its core, a fundamental child rights issue.
In a strategic partnership, UNICEF India and YuWaah have been named the official youth engagement partners.
The organisers aim to empower the next generation to become active agents of change within their communities. These efforts seek to bridge the gap between grassroots student participation and high-level civic leadership, ensuring a cleaner and safer
future for all.
Collaborating with convener Project Mumbai, UNICEF and YuWaah will lead activities throughout the month to ensure that the perspectives and experiences of children and young adults are meaningfully integrated into policy discussions and climate dialogues.
“Children and young people are powerful agents of change. By placing children at the centre of climate solutions, we work with governments to invest in their rights,” UNICEF India representative Cynthia McCaffrey said about the campaign,
The event will feature a variety of interactive programmes designed to translate global priorities into local action. From February 9 to 16, ‘Campus Climate Roadshows’ will be organised across select Mumbai colleges.
A key highlight of these roadshows is a signature electronic waste installation created under the education ministry’s ‘Mission LiFE’, which spotlights youth-led action on responsible consumption and e-waste management. The ‘Youth Green Innovation Challenge’ will serve as a national platform for changemakers aged 16 to 24. It rewards sustainable solutions across three themes: food systems, urban resilience, and energy transition. Selected innovators will showcase their solutions at the Mumbai Climate Week, engaging directly with experts and policymakers to explore opportunities for scale.
Shishir Joshi, founder and CEO of Project Mumbai, said these initiatives are about “turning ideas into action through conversations that matter”, ultimately building a network of young climate advocates who will carry this momentum into their communities long after the event concludes. Through such comprehensive engagement, Mumbai Climate Week 2026 aims to model how youth can drive practical climate action today.
