Bhubaneswar- The Odisha Conference of Youth (OCOY) 2025 opened today at ASBM University, Bhubaneswar, with a resounding call for youth-led climate action and innovation. Inaugurated by Hon’ble Governor of Odisha, Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati, the three-day flagship event of the Youth4Water Plus campaign has convened over 800 youth changemakers, climate advocates, and experts from across Odisha and beyond.
“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,” said the Governor, urging young people to become “the architects of Viksit Bharat@2047.” In his address, he mentioned, “Your climate action is not just activism—it is patriotism. The world doesn’t need spectators. It needs leaders. Let this be your moment.”
William Hanlon, Jr., Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Odisha, emphasized the importance of young people’s involvement. “What we witness here today is not just an event—it is the spirit of youth leadership in action,” Hanlon said. “At UNICEF, we believe that young people are not passive recipients of change—they are active agents of it.”
The Odisha Conference of Youth (OCOY) 2025, organized in partnership with UNICEF and over 50 organizations, provides a vital platform for young people to lead climate action. The conference features vibrant cultural performances, thematic sessions on climate education and green entrepreneurship, and an exhibition showcasing youth-led innovations. A special highlight is the youth storytelling segment, which shared local solutions from some of Odisha’s most climate-affected regions, demonstrating the power of grassroots efforts.
Over the next two days, OCOY 2025 will offer a high-energy Youth Parliament and collaborative workshops, culminating in the drafting of a Youth Statement on Climate Action. This declaration will present aspirations and policy recommendations from Odisha’s youth to national and global stakeholders, including the upcoming COP30 in Brazil. As Odisha faces increasing climate vulnerabilities, OCOY is a clarion call to empower young people to co-create an equitable and sustainable future.
From tribal belts to coastal zones, the 2025 edition includes participants from all 30 districts, ensuring representation of Odisha’s diverse youth, including those from farming and disaster-prone communities.As Odisha grapples with mounting climate vulnerabilities and water stress, OCOY 2025 is a clarion call for empowering young people to lead local solutions, build climate literacy, and co-create an equitable, sustainable future.
The other dignitaries who attended the event were: K.S. Pradeep, IFS, Director (Environment)-cum-Special Secretary, Govt. 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.
