Passionate youth between 18-35 years old with an interest in climate action are invited to apply for the Odisha Conference of Youth (OCOY) 2025
OdishaPlus Bureau
As India faces increasing climate challenges, the state of Odisha is preparing its youth to influence both national and international policy. From August 10th to 12th, Bhubaneswar will host the Odisha Conference of Youth (OCOY) 2025, a three-day residential summit that will gather over 150 young participants from across the state to formulate actionable solutions for climate resilience.
Organized by ‘Youth4Water Plus’ with support from UNICEF Odisha, OCOY is modeled after the official global Conference of Youth (COY), which serves as a preparatory event for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP).
To register, applicants can apply online at: https://forms.gle/3zDbsmQDVi5xznCg7
This year’s conference holds particular significance as it precedes COP30 in Brazil, providing a platform for Odisha’s youth to shape policy recommendations. The initiative addresses an urgent need, as Odisha has long been on the frontlines of climate-induced disasters, including frequent cyclones, floods, and rising sea levels. Many delegates are expected to come from communities already experiencing these severe impacts, making their insights essential for crafting effective policies.
The organization behind the movement, ‘Youth4Water Plus’, has grown into a notable platform for youth engagement. Shipra Saxena, WASH-CCES Specialist at UNICEF Odisha, reflects on its journey saying, “Youth4Water Plus started as a simple idea—to bring young people into the heart of WASH and climate action. Today, it has grown into a movement with over 60 partners and more than 5 lakhs young changemakers across Odisha.”
Between 2023 and 2024, OCOY engaged over 300 youth and 50 experts through workshops and policy dialogues. The upcoming conference, OCOY 3.0, aims for expanded youth participation and stronger partnerships. The three-day summit is structured to blend education with action:
- Day 1 (Aug 10): Workshops on green skilling, water resilience, and climate literacy, alongside personal climate stories from participants.
- Day 2 (Aug 11): Field visits to ecological sites, followed by team-based challenges and the formation of youth task forces.
- Day 3 (Aug 12): A Youth Parliament where participants will engage with policymakers and present their ideas.
The agenda is built around four themes: Water, Sanitation & Climate Resilience; Youth for Climate Education & Just Transitions; Green Skills, Nature-Based Solutions & Renewable Energy; and Climate Adaptation for Health, Nutrition & Environment.
As informed by the organizers, key outcome of OCOY will be the creation of a Youth Climate Policy Paper containing recommendations from the participants. This paper will be submitted to the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) India and the global COP30 in Brazil.
Highlighting the conference’s effect, Shipra Saxena noted past examples of youth leadership. “In just two years, more than 300 youth from across 30 districts of Odisha have come together… Just like Bharat Gourav Dash from Ganjam, who returned and mobilized his college to take small actions on plastic waste management and 8 youths who represented Odisha at COP29 and took voices from the state to a global platform.”
With a focus on inclusivity, the summit is making efforts to include youth from tribal groups, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized communities. For the 150 selected participants, accommodation, meals, and local travel will be provided.