Prof Bijayalaxmi Nanda, Principal, Miranda House, University of Delhi, began her address at the 2nd Yuva Sustainability Conference (online), organised on 13 December 2025 under the Yuva Sustainability Internships Programme by Voices of Bharat: Yuva for Sustainability on the theme ‘Beyond COP30: Empowering Youth for Climate Action’, not with statistics or urgent warnings, but with reflection. Drawing upon the words of Jane Goodall, “If we lose hope, we do nothing”, she framed sustainability as a practice rooted in hope, responsibility and lived experience rather than rhetoric.
Prof Nanda reminded the audience that India had been reflecting on nature and responsibility long before Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring. Thinkers such as Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore, along with writers like M. Krishnan, had written about forests, wildlife, soil, water and the consequences of unchecked urbanisation. She spoke of the wisdom of tribal and indigenous communities, for whom sustainability was never a formal concept, yet something deeply practised in everyday life. This opening highlighted a simple but often overlooked truth: sustainability is neither new nor imported; it has long been embedded in lived traditions.
At the core of her address was the belief that sustainability must be rooted in lived experience rather than confined to policy frameworks or global targets. Referring to Ramachandra Guha’s idea of “livelihood environmentalism”, she emphasised that meaningful environmental action frequently arises from communities directly dependent on natural resources. Such action is driven less by comfort or contemporary terminology and more by necessity and care. For Prof Nanda, sustainability is not about displaying favourable metrics; it is about building systems that respect nature while sustaining livelihoods. Her reflections illustrated not only her understanding of environmental engagement but also how institutions such as Miranda House operationalise these values in daily practice.One of the strongest insights from her address was that sustainability is most effective when practised rather than promoted. Long before climate action became a familiar term in academic discourse, Miranda House had integrated sustainability into campus life. Recycling and composting units, rainwater harvesting, wastewater management, hydroponics and a transition to complete reliance on solar energy reflect an institutional commitment to action. Waste management, plastic recycling, paper reuse and clean-up drives are not symbolic gestures but routine practices. Notably, many of these initiatives are student-led, not through compulsion but through awareness and collective responsibility.This message carries particular significance for young people. Students are often described as “future leaders”, yet Prof Nanda underscored that they are already leading. At Miranda House, students conduct clean-up drives, manage recycling systems, collaborate with adopted villages and learn directly from rural communities. Through incubation centres and allied initiatives, students and alumni are developing sustainable products, from eco-friendly fabrics to biodegradable mushroom-based packaging materials. Such efforts demonstrate that climate action need not be deferred; it can begin in immediate surroundings, provided there is resolve.Another compelling aspect of her address was the insistence on listening to youth rather than merely speaking for them. Instead of assuming what young people require, institutions must create spaces where their ideas are acknowledged and supported. This approach has enabled collaborations with organisations such as WWF and global eco-programmes that mentor youth to transform environmental concerns into tangible solutions. She also referred to the United Nations’ concept of “Green Nudges”, suggesting that encouraging small, greener choices can produce lasting impact.As the address concluded, the focus shifted from institutions to shared responsibility. Climate action cannot remain confined within national or regional boundaries; it demands global cooperation. Yet within this expansive challenge, role models remain important. Jane Goodall’s lifelong commitment to environmental protection was cited as an example of persistence, even when the cause seemed marginal. The message was clear, hope is not passive; it survives only through sustained action.
The concluding reflection lingered beyond the session. If hope is abandoned and no action is taken, hope ceases to exist. Sustainability is not about meeting predefined targets; it is about choosing to learn and to accept responsibility, particularly as young people shaping the future they already inhabit.
The writer is a MSc Botany student at University of Rajasthan, Jaipur.