Bhubaneswar: The fourth edition of Odisha Conference of Youth (OCOY 4.0) began here on Monday and brought together more than 150 young delegates from all 30 districts to strengthen youth-led climate action and leadership.Organised by Youth4Water Plus campaign in partnership with UNICEF Odisha, the state govt and over 50 partner organisations, the theme of the three-day conference is “Building Next Generation Climate Leaders.”Inaugurating the conference, governor Hari Babu Kambhampati urged young people to move beyond awareness and emerge as changemakers in their communities. Stressing that climate change is already impacting lives, he said Odisha has repeatedly demonstrated resilience in the face of disasters.“Climate change is no longer a threat, but a reality. Odisha is not a land of victims. It is a land of survivors,” the governor said. Calling on delegates to act as ambassadors of sustainability, he added, “Let your actions be so loud that they inspire those who are still silent.”Emphasising the importance of youth participation in climate governance, UNICEF Odisha chief of field office Prasanta Kumar Dash said children and young people should be seen as partners in decision-making rather than passive beneficiaries.“Platforms like OCOY empower young people with the knowledge, confidence and opportunities to shape climate solutions within their own communities,” Dash said.The conference will feature climate simulations, negotiation exercises, policy dialogues, innovation challenges and field visits designed to equip participants with leadership and problem-solving skills. Delegates will visit Bidyadharpur village and Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Puri to gain first-hand exposure to community-led climate-resilient practices.Participants will also pitch green business ideas during the Eco-Tank session, debate environmental concerns through a Tribunal for Environmental Justice and jointly draft a Youth Statement. The statement will be presented to chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi during the valedictory session on Aug 12.
