Indo-German GSDP Conversation Series Brings Young Leaders Together for Sustainable Development

The German Embassy in New Delhi hosted the 11th edition of the Indo German Partnership for Green and Sustainable Development (GSDP) Conversation Series on the occasion of United Nations International Youth Day, bringing together young leaders, innovators, policymakers and development practitioners to discuss youth led action on sustainability and climate resilience.

Themed 'Young Voices for Sustainable Development,' the session focused on the role of young people in accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 on gender equality, SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy, SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities, and SDG 13 on climate action.

The discussion examined how youth are contributing to inclusive urbanisation and sustainable mobility, expanding access to clean energy, promoting gender equality and developing solutions to address climate challenges. Speakers also highlighted the role of international and bilateral partnerships in enabling young people to turn innovative ideas into practical solutions.

Opening the event, Georg Enzweiler, Chargé d'Affaires at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, said that the major challenges facing the world require partnerships among governments, businesses, scientists, entrepreneurs and communities. He said young people are already shaping the future by driving innovation, developing solutions and bringing new perspectives to sustainability, climate justice and inclusion.

A key feature of the event was a fishbowl discussion, an interactive format designed to encourage participation from both panelists and the audience. The session was moderated by Jasmine Kaur, Officer in the Economic Cooperation and Development Division of the German Embassy.

The panel included Prateek Khandelwal, Founder of RampMyCity; Dr Priyanshi Chauhan, Energy Advisor at GIZ India; Ronak Jogeshwar, Senior Fellow at the Viksit Bharat Program; and Pallavi Agrawal, Programme Analyst at UN Women India.

The panelists discussed youth led innovation and entrepreneurship across sustainable cities, clean energy, gender equality and climate action. They shared examples of how young people can contribute to practical solutions while strengthening collaboration between institutions, communities and the private sector.

The event also featured an exhibition showcasing innovations developed by young changemakers from across India. The exhibits presented solutions related to inclusive public transport and sustainable cities, climate action, clean energy and gender equality, highlighting the contribution of emerging innovators to sustainable development.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Pamela Baijal, Deputy Head of the Economic Cooperation and Development Division at the German Embassy. She thanked the speakers, exhibitors and participants and emphasised the importance of youth voices in strengthening India Germany cooperation on sustainable development.

The Indo German Partnership for Green and Sustainable Development was launched in 2022 as a strategic framework for cooperation on sustainable and climate aligned development. The partnership supports initiatives contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals and the objectives of the Paris Agreement.