Sustainability cannot remain an add on, it must become an integral part of how young people learn, think and act. This idea shaped the discussions at the 3rd Yuva Sustainability Conference and Awards 2026, where educators reflected on their role in influencing future generations to drive meaningful societal change.
Placing education at the centre of the conversation, Professor Bijayalaxmi Nanda, Principal, Miranda House, argued that sustainability must be made a mandatory component of the Indian education system. Emphasising the principle of inter-generational equity, she called for building a humane and compassionate society rooted in minimalism and responsibility.
Highlighting institutional action, she shared how Miranda House is leading by example through on-campus initiatives such as paper recycling units, the use of solar energy, and the cultivation of herbal plants and millets. Extending learning beyond classrooms, she pointed to community engagement through the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), which connects academic knowledge with real-world practice and personal responsibility.
She also introduced the idea of ‘travel guilt’, encouraging individuals to reflect on their carbon footprint. Those travelling by air or car, she suggested, should consider offsetting their impact by planting trees at their destinations, a small but meaningful step towards accountability.
Building on this perspective, Prof Meenakshi Narula, Director, Jagannath International Management School, Vasant Kunj, emphasised the importance of nurturing inter-relational values between nature and its caretakers. She highlighted recent curriculum developments that encourage students to engage more deeply with the Indian Knowledge System and understand sustainable practices in real-world contexts.“Sustainability is not just knowledge; it is a relationship between people and nature”, she added.
Across the session, a shared message emerged: educators are not just knowledge providers, but role models who shape values, attitudes and behaviours. By embedding sustainability into education systems and everyday practices, they can influence how young people think about responsibility, consumption and their role in society.
As the session concluded, it reinforced a critical insight- meaningful societal change begins in classrooms but must extend far beyond them. For educators and students alike, sustainability is not just a subject to be studied, but a way of life to be practised.
Aarushi Tripathy is pursuing Bachelors in Journalism and Mass Communication at JIMS Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.