OCOY 2025 Opens in Bhubaneswar with a Powerful Call for Youth-Led Climate Action

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Conference of Youth (OCOY) 2025 kicked off today at ASBM University, Bhubaneswar, uniting over 800 young changemakers, climate advocates, and experts from across the state and beyond. The three-day flagship event of the Youth4Water Plus campaign was inaugurated by Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati, who urged the youth to lead the nation’s journey towards Viksit Bharat@2047.

“Odisha is proud of a generation of youth who are conscious, committed, and courageous. You are rooted in tradition and ready to lead in innovation,” the Governor said in his inaugural address. Calling climate action “patriotism in its purest form,” he urged young people to step up as leaders rather than remain spectators.

Highlighting the transformative role of youth, William Hanlon, Jr., Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Odisha, said, “What we witness here today is not just an event—it is the spirit of youth leadership in action. At UNICEF, we believe that young people are not passive recipients of change—they are active agents of it.”

Organized in partnership with UNICEF and over 50 organizations, OCOY 2025 is designed to amplify youth voices in climate discourse. The conference features cultural performances, thematic sessions on climate education and green entrepreneurship, and an exhibition of youth-led innovations. A special storytelling segment spotlighted local solutions from some of Odisha’s most climate-affected regions, underscoring the power of grassroots action.

In the coming days, the conference will host a Youth Parliament and collaborative workshops, leading to the drafting of a Youth Statement on Climate Action. This declaration will outline aspirations and policy recommendations from Odisha’s youth to national and global stakeholders, including at COP30 in Brazil.

This year’s edition ensures representation from all 30 districts of Odisha, including tribal belts, farming communities, and disaster-prone coastal regions. As the state faces rising climate vulnerabilities and water stress, OCOY 2025 stands as a rallying point for empowering young people to create sustainable, locally driven solutions.

Notable attendees included K.S. Pradeep, IFS, Director (Environment)-cum-Special Secretary, Government of Odisha; environmentalist Arun Krishnamurthy; global youth climate advocate Johann Hoschtialek; Dr. Biswajeet Pattanayak, President, ASBM University; Sujit Mahapatra, Advisor, Youth4Water Plus & Founder, Bakul Foundation; and Blorin Mohanty, Director, Youth4Water Plus.