Mumbai to Host India’s First City-Led Climate Action Initiative

Mumbai is set to host a landmark urban climate event, positioning climate action as a fundamental child rights issue. Titled Mumbai Climate Week 2026, the three-day programme will be held from February 17 to 19 and marks India’s first city-led initiative focused on citizen-driven climate solutions with a strong emphasis on children and youth participation.

City-Led Climate Action with a Child Rights Lens

The initiative is grounded in the recognition that climate change disproportionately affects children, impacting health, education and long-term well-being. By framing climate action as a child rights imperative, the event aims to integrate social justice into urban climate planning. Mumbai Climate Week seeks to demonstrate how local governments in the Global South can drive resilience by embedding climate responsibility within civic systems.

Youth Engagement Through Strategic Partnerships

UNICEF India and YuWaah have been named official youth engagement partners, working alongside convener Project Mumbai. The collaboration aims to empower children and young adults as active agents of change by ensuring their lived experiences inform policy dialogue and climate governance at the city level.

Campus Outreach and Innovation Platforms

A series of Campus Climate Roadshows will be organised across Mumbai colleges from February 9 to 16 to mobilise student participation. A key feature will be an electronic waste installation under the Ministry of Education’s Mission LiFE, highlighting responsible consumption and youth-led action on e-waste management. Another major component is the Youth Green Innovation Challenge, a national platform for innovators aged 16 to 24, focusing on food systems, urban resilience and energy transition.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• Mission LiFE promotes sustainable lifestyles through citizen participation.
• Urban resilience focuses on cities’ capacity to adapt to climate risks.
• Children are recognised as a vulnerable group in climate policy frameworks.
• Youth-led climate innovation supports bottom-up governance models.

Linking Grassroots Action with Civic Leadership

Selected innovators from the challenge will showcase their solutions during Mumbai Climate Week, engaging directly with experts and policymakers to explore scalability. Organisers emphasise that the initiative aims to convert dialogue into action by building long-term networks of young climate advocates. Through sustained engagement, Mumbai Climate Week 2026 seeks to set a replicable model for integrating youth voices into urban climate action across India.