Lucknow, May 30, 2025 — When young people not only dream but dare to turn their vision into reality, their efforts transcend borders and resonate globally. Sundaram Tiwari, a youth environmentalist from Uttar Pradesh, India, is one such changemaker. Selected to represent India and South Asia at the prestigious Asia-Pacific Youth Environment Forum and the 6th Asia-Pacific Ministerial Environment Forum, Sundaram will participate in the high-level UN gathering scheduled to be held from August 26 to 29, 2025, in Nadi, Fiji.
The forum, which will bring together environment ministers, policymakers, UN agencies, and youth delegates from over 60 Asia-Pacific countries, is a critical platform to shape the region’s response to the escalating climate and ecological crisis. With the theme “Youth as Catalysts for Climate Justice,” this year’s summit underlines the growing recognition of youth leadership in driving equitable and sustainable climate solutions.
India has historically had a robust presence at global climate platforms, but Sundaram’s participation adds a powerful new dimension—rooted in grassroots action, rural innovation, and cultural consciousness.
Hailing from Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Sundaram Tiwari is not just an environmental activist—he is a catalyst for community-driven change. As the founder of Nature Green Future Trust, he has trained thousands of young people in water, forest, land, and climate conservation. His efforts to rejuvenate the endangered Sai River led to a people’s movement that engaged hundreds of village councils, schools, and local institutions in restoring the ecological and cultural identity of the river.
Sundaram’s bicycle climate awareness tour across 10 Indian states, conducting over 150 grassroots dialogues, exemplified his unique approach. He communicated climate challenges not through jargon but through folklore, village gatherings, and local songs—empowering farmers, women, and children to engage in homegrown climate action.
His “Letter to Nature” campaign, which encouraged thousands of children to write heartfelt messages to the environment, was adopted by schools nationwide as a creative approach to climate education.
Beyond grassroots activism, Sundaram has actively contributed to environmental policy discourse. He is a member of YOUNGO, the official youth constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and d with the UNEP Youth Network and the Young India Climate Community. He has offered strategic policy inputs to both state governments and international bodies on youth-led environmental action.
His work has earned him the State Youth Award from the Government of Uttar Pradesh, recognizing his commitment to ecological sustainability and social impact.
Sundaram’s selection is emblematic of a broader shift in global thinking—acknowledging that climate solutions must be shaped by technology, community participation, and the energy of young changemakers. At the Fiji forum, he will present India’s rural innovations, cultural knowledge systems, and life-affirming ecological practices, bridging the gap between policy and people.
Aman Kumar, Coordinator of Climate Cardinals India and President of Udaan Youth Club, congratulated Sundaram, calling his selection “not just a personal achievement but international recognition of India’s climate consciousness.” He added, “Sundaram will represent not just facts and frameworks, but empathy, comion, and lived wisdom from India’s rural heartland.”
Sundaram, who is participating in the forum through self-financing, shared that he has reached out to local organizations for partial financial .
His journey from a small village in Uttar Pradesh to the UN platform is more than a milestone—it is a symbol of rising youth leadership, ecological awareness, and grassroots innovation from India gaining global legitimacy. As the world teeters on the edge of a climate emergency, Sundaram’s story proves that with clarity of thought, community connection, and unwavering commitment, boundaries can be crossed—not just geographically, but ideologically.
At a time when the planet is in urgent need of inclusive solutions, India can take pride in having youth leaders like Sundaram Tiwari—who are not just participating in change, but actively guiding its direction.