UNICEF-led Youth4Water Plus announces Odisha Conference of Youth (OCOY 3.0)

By Our Staff Correspondent

Bhubaneswar, June 5: In a powerful step towards youth-led climate action, UNICEF-led Youth4Water Plus on Thursday announced the third edition of the Odisha Conference of Youth (OCOY 3.0) and Young Climate Leaders Action Project (YCLAP 3.0) in Bhubaneswar on the occasion of World Environment Day.

Karthick V., IFS, CEO, State Medicinal Plants Board, and PD, Odisha Bamboo Development Programme, Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Government of Odisha, and Odia film actress Anu Choudhury inaugurated this event.

The Odisha Conference of Youth (OCOY), which will be held from August 9-11, 2025, in Bhubaneswar, is a landmark event and a transformative initiative that aligns with the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and emphasizes the importance of local action in the face of the climate change crisis. This initiative empowered the youth of Odisha on WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) and climate change, reinforcing the region’s commitment to sustainable development and a secure future for generations to come by fostering global leaders.

Acknowledging the significant role of youth in climate action, Karthick V, IFS, stated, “Youth have a critical role to play in advocacy, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Whether it’s offering solutions to human-wildlife conflict or promoting bamboo-based livelihoods, we encourage young minds to visit, research, and bring forth actionable ideas for environmental conservation.”

Highlighting the journey of the Youth4Water Plus campaign and the significance of OCOY Shipra Saxena, Specialist, WASH & CCES, UNICEF Odisha, says, “This platform provides opportunities to the youth of Odisha to present actionable climate recommendations to policymakers.” “Local-level climate dialogues could reach the global platforms such as the Conference of the Parties (COP) through meaningful youth engagement.”

Odia film actress Anu Choudhury encouraged the youth to act responsibly at the household level and beyond. She stressed the importance of youth participation in environmental decision-making and community-level leadership.

The OCOY 3.0 Committee, comprising 20 selected youth members from across Odisha, were introduced during the launch. These members will be responsible for designing, organizing, and facilitating all conference activities, including sessions, field visits, the final presentation of recommendations, and pre- and post-conference engagements.

This event was attended by Sujit Mahapatra, director of the Bakul Foundation; Stalin Nayak, a youth leader and former COP participant; and other youth leaders.