Experiential Education for Net Zero Emerges as a Decisive Strategy Ahead of COP30
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cyber Space, 12 October 2025: In a historic move, the first-ever simulated Virtual COP, organized by YOUNGO Energy, has officially endorsed a groundbreaking Youth-Led Proposal for "University Determined Contributions (UDCs)." Developed by the India-based Green TERRE Foundation through its Smart Campus Cloud Network (SCCN), this endorsement creates powerful momentum ahead of COP30 in Belem, Brazil, commencing on 10th November 2025. This decisive action cuts through the usual cycle of high-level summits and protracted negotiations, signalling a new era of youth-driven climate action.
In his inaugural address, Ovais Sarmad, former Deputy Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC and mentor to Green TERRE Foundation, set the urgent tone, stating: "The Pace of Diplomacy and Conference Room Meetings to discuss climate change is being overtaken by rapidly rising global warming and its devastating impacts. We need concrete measures to stop that trend and remain with the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold as established by the Paris Agreement. University-youth led transformation is one such action that would inspire a meaningful and much needed global climate-action . University Campus as living-laboratory for net-zero target and empowering the skilled human-capital for limiting emissions and global warming will be the winning strategies."
The virtual conference galvanized 1,500 registered youth participants from over 50 organizations across all five continents, with nearly 40 sessions highlighting significant engagement from the Global South.
Modelled after the Paris Agreement's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the UDC framework empowers universities worldwide to pledge and implement concrete roadmaps to achieve Net Zero GHG emissions by 2030-2035. It transforms campuses into dynamic 'living laboratories' for climate solutions, equipping the next generation with practical skills through hands-on, experiential learning.
Saikat Das, President of the Virtual COP, introduced the landmark proposal, declaring: "This is a powerful testament to the role of youth as not just future leaders, but as today's change-makers." He further added that, "By passing the UDC proposal, we are sending a clear signal to world leaders that the next generation is ready to bridge the emission gap with ambitious action, not just hollow words."
The UDC movement aligns seamlessly with the Brazilian COP30 Presidency's core themes of Innovation, Inclusion, and Implementation. The SCCN platform, backed by a robust network of over 550 universities across 15 countries—including Brazil's Maua Institute of Technology—has garnered support from prominent global leaders like Erik Solheim, former UN Under-Secretary-General, and Prakash Javadekar, former Environment Minister of India.
Dr. Rajendra Shende, Founder Director of Green TERRE Foundation and former Director of UNEP, emphasized the proposal's transformative potential, noting: "The acceptance of UDCs for COP30 marks a critical step in mainstreaming climate education and linking it to action through experiential learning." Dr Shende , who was also Coordinating Lead Author of IPCC-2007 that won the Nobel Peace Prize , added, "We are mobilizing the much-needed 'human capital' for a Net-Zero future, ensuring that COP30's legacy is written on university campuses and in the minds of students."
The proposal will now be formally advanced for consideration by the COP30 Presidency and parties, with the aim of launching a global UDC framework initiative in Belem.
About YOUNGO Energy:
The YOUNGO Energy working group is a key component of the YOUNGO, official children and youth constituency to the UNFCCC, dedicated to mobilizing youth voices for a just energy transition. It is a global network of young professionals and climate advocates driving dialogue and action on sustainable energy. It aims to bridge technology, and community innovation to accelerate equitable decarbonization worldwide. It plays a vital role in shaping policy inputs and driving ambition for Net-Zero energy systems within the international climate negotiations.
About Green TERRE Foundation:
Green TERRE Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to pioneering sustainable solutions for our developmental needs. Its flagship project, the Smart Campus Cloud Network (SCCN), is a digital platform that mobilizes university youth to achieve Net-Zero campuses through data-driven technologies and project-based learning.
Contact:
YOUNGO Energy: Saikat Das, President V-COP
E-mail:
Green TERRE Foundation: Dr. Rajendra Shende, Founder Director
Email:
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