Project Mumbai in partnership with the Government of Maharashtra, Department of Environment and Climate Change, brings together a gathering of influencers across the spectrum who will spend quality time to present a Result Oriented, Time-Bound Environment Action Plan for Mumbai, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Maharashtra.
National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and PwC are the knowledge partners for this historic decisive gathering.
The uniqueness of this gathering is that in Mumbai and Maharashtra’s Gen-Next, students between 14 to 21 are being invited to help shape this policy frame-which will help govern how we should be dealing with our environment-Land, Water and Air.
This would be done through a hugely interactive Ideas for Action Essay Contest across languages, judged by an eminent set of credible names.
ENVIRONMENT 2.0 GEN-NEXT will be held in Mumbai in the first quarter of 2021. (The dates would be announced soon).
Mini-Summit:
ENVIRONMENT 2.0 GEN-NEXT – Ideas for Action contest
The Ideas for Action Essay contest for a key foundation of the ENVIRONMENT 2.0 GEN-NEXT conference to be held in 2021.
(The specific date and venue will be announced shortly).
Environment 2.0 is derived from the broader Mumbai 2.0 conference of influencers hosted by Project Mumbai in December 2018, wherein, one of the emergent discussion outcomes raised was Mumbai and Maharashtra’s Environment.
The Government in Maharashtra holds the unique distinction across India of choosing the Environment as one of its primary agendas. A decision appreciated across age groups and more specifically, the youth.
It is thus imperative that we channel the enthusiasm and creativity of young Mumbaikars to shape the developmental agenda for MMR as well as Maharashtra.
Contest for Youngsters:
Youth constitute a large part of Mumbai and Maharashtra’s population and will have to manage the consequences of current environmental decisions. We believe it is time to empower the youth through active engagement on key environmental issues. Ideas for Action will be the platform for them to come up with solutions around these three major environmental challenges facing the country’s most active Coastal megapolis–Mumbai.
The contest is open through schools and colleges.
Thus, there are two categories:
- Senior High School Students ( Age 14-17 years )
- Junior College Students (Age 17-21 years )
What is expected from the participant
We invite entries(Short Crisp Solutions) for the contest in both written and digital form
(open across anyone language–English, Hindi, and Marathi) around ANY ONE of the thematic areas:
Climate Change
“Climate Change is the defining issue of our time and we are at a defining moment- United Nations Secretary-General”
Climate Change is accelerating, and impacts are happening now. The impacts of climate change are global in scope, irreversible in nature and unprecedented in scale. Over the past years, it has become one of the greatest threats to the existence of the human race.
Its impacts can be felt in the form of increasing global temperatures, shifting weather patterns, extreme weather events, such as unprecedented levels of rainfall and floods, storms, unusual spells of hot weather, increase in droughts, etc. Beyond these immediate and visible impacts of climate change, there is alarming evidence that critical tipping points in the form of deterioration of natural ecosystems and the planetary boundaries may already have been reached or passed.
For a developing nation like India, climate change poses even greater challenges. Increasing temperatures will lead to an increase in temperature-related illnesses, vector-borne diseases, cholera, and health effects due to food insecurity. The phase of rapid and uncertain natural disasters can already be observed with a visible increase in the frequency of hot days, heat waves, droughts, rise in the frequency of heavy rainfall events, flash floods, and rise in the sea levels (at the rate of 2.4 millimeters (mm) per year)
This is especially challenging for coastal States such as Maharashtra. Coastal regions such as Mumbai and its suburbs, along with 33 other districts in the State, have been identified as the most vulnerable to climate threats. Projections indicate that the State will face an increase of 22 to 32% in extreme weather events in the coming 10 years. Changing climate will also reduce crop yield, further endangering farmer livelihoods and reducing options for sustainable rural livelihoods.
The next generation of citizens, i.e., the youth of our country, are going to be the ones to face the hard consequences of climate change. They are also the ones best positioned to break existing social practices and stigmas to bring about meaningful change in societies. Youth education and participation represent one of the most effective tools to combat the destructive potential of climate change and protect our land, air, water. As does their ability to adjust their lifestyles to make them low-carbon and adaptable to mitigate the risk of climate change. The youth play a crucial role in combating climate change and need to be an active proponent in decision-making at local, national, and global levels.
Clean Air
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Air Pollution as “the presence of materials in the air in such concentration which is harmful to man and his environment.” India is home to 22 of the world’s 30 worst polluted cities. Breathing in polluted air can be very bad for our health. Long-term exposure to air pollution has been associated with diseases of the heart and lungs, cancers, and other health problems.
Suggested Topics
Transportation
- Vehicular emissions
- Suspended dust
Green Cover
- National park
- Vertical gardens
- Waterfront development
Others (e.g. construction)
- Industries & Power Plants
- Biofuel emissions
- Waste burning
Clean Water
Cities around the world are facing acute shortages of drinking water resources with the population in cities expected to grow exponentially to 68% by 2050. The challenge to provide clean water to those living in urban areas is only going to get harder. Every year, the water stock in Mumbai during the summer falls drastically and it had reached as low as 5.37% before the arrival of monsoon this year.
This calls for a behavioral change from water-intensive lifestyles, conservation Initiatives/programs at the household and municipal level, and innovative solutions to reduce water use.
Suggested Topics
Waste Water
- Rainwater harvesting; Reducing water leakages
- Sewage treatment; Wastewater recycling and reuse
- Effective ways to deal with water contamination during monsoons
Rivers & Lakes
- River cleaning
- Lake rejuvenation, desilting & maintenance of natural reservoirs
Sea & Beaches
- Marine litter
- Beach cleaning
Clean Land
Indian cities generate about 1.5 lakh tonnes of garbage every day, of which only one-fourth gets processed. More than 10 lakh plastic drinking bottles are purchased every minute around the world, most of which are non-recyclable. Waste generation in Mumbai has more than doubled in the last 15 years touching 11,000 tonnes per day in 2016. Untreated waste contaminates our land, water bodies and poses a serious health threat to the city’s growing population.
Suggested Topics
Segregation / Collection
- Segregation at source
- Plastic ban
Processing / Landfill
- Landfill sites
- Waste to Energy
Circular economy
(These are suggested topics. Students are at liberty to choose any other topic of relevance under the same head)
How should the entries be submitted:
- Entries can either be hand-written (and scanned and e-mailed)
- Emailed
- in Pictoral form
- or in Digital/Audio /Video
- The text/ written form should not exceed 1000 words.
Language:
Entries can either be in English, Hindi, or Marathi.ANYONE LANGUAGE
Please make sure the entries are restricted to the articulation of ideas in any ONE of the three focus areas – Clean Air, Clean Water, and Clean Land. VIOLATION WOULD AUTOMATICALLY IMPLY REJECTION.
Entries nominated by the Schools/Educational Institutions:
For the seamless selection of entries and to maintain fairness, every entry should be nominated by the Schools/Educational Institutions (thus to be uploaded by the school administration).
For Independent Entries:
Step 1. Register the entry on www.projectmumbai.org/environment and submit your school/institution ID card.
Step 2. Submit the entry on environment@projectmumbai.org with the authorization/consent letter from the school/institution Head or Principal.
Mark the submission mail to the School/institution Head.
Instructions for the teachers:
You are requested to circulate the call for entries to the competition and brief them regarding the thematic areas.
We will notify you of the results as per the stipulated timeline.
The successful candidates may be invited for a short initial interaction with the Jury team to discuss their ideas.
Selection:
The top 15 entries in each segment (15 from Land-water-Air from the 14 to 17 age group) making it 45 in the Higher School Category and top 15 entries in each segment (15-land, 15-Water-15 Air from the Junior College segment) making this an additional 45 students will be shortlisted to attend the Conference and interact with the experts.
Recognition:
The best five in each category (15 from the school segment and 15 from the College segment) will be invited for the Jury selection.
The jury will then choose the winners of the various segments.
One each from the Junior College segment will be part of the expert panel on stage.
Two each from land-Water-Air submissions will be part of a special School Panel discussion on stage as well.
Certificates:
Every participant will get a Certificate of Participation from the organizing team as well as Project Mumbai.
The invited 90 will be presented with a Certificate signed by the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and Project Mumbai, as Green Heroes.
The selected winners will get an opportunity to attend a round table with the Hon Minister for Environment (this may either be in person or in a digital form, depending on the circumstances prevailing).
The Winners of each category will be presented with a Citation from the Environment Minister of Maharashtra.
Step 1. Register the entry on www.projectmumbai.org/environment
Step 2. Entries can be emailed to environment@projectmumbai.org
Jury Members
Anant Pandurang Deshpande
Secretary of Marathi Vidnyan Parishad
Dr Rakesh Kumar,
Director, CSIR-NEERI, Nagpur
Debi Goenka
Vikram Singh Mehta
Cyrus Guzdar
Sumaira Abdulali
Dr Indu Shahani
Bittu Shegal
Francis Joseph
Ms. Radhika Suri
Knowledge Leadership Team
Vijayam kartha
Subhajit Mukherjee
FAQ’S
The country’s fastest-growing urban pocket requires a deep dive Environment Action Plan.
ENVIRONMENT 2.0 GEN-NEXT will be a gathering of influencers, focusing on children and young adults who will share solutions on Clean Land, Clean Water and Clean Air (details are listed above) discuss the various facets across land-Water-Air and come up with a plan.
The initiative is being planned by Project Mumbai, a not for profit (www.projectmumbai.org) in partnership with the Government of Maharashtra, Department of Environment and Climate Change
This gathering becomes unique as it will involve children to come up with solutions for Mumbai and MMR’s environment challenges. Through the Ideas for Action Essay contest.
Youth constitute a large part of Mumbai population and will have to manage the consequences of current environmental decisions. We believe its time to empower the youth through active engagement on key environmental issues and Ideas for Action will be the platform for them to come up with solutions around these three major environmental challenges facing Mumbai.
The contest is open through schools and colleges of Mumbai.
Thus, there are two categories:
Senior High School Students ( Age 14-17 years )
Junior College Students (Age 17-21 years )
We invite entries(Short Crisp Solutions) for the contest in both written and digital form around any one of the three thematic areas:
- Clean Air – The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Air Pollution as “the presence of materials in the air in such concentration which are harmful to man and his environment.” India is home to 22 of the world’s 30 worst polluted cities. Breathing in polluted air can be very bad for our health. Long-term exposure to air pollution has been associated with diseases of the heart and lungs, cancers and other health problems.
- Clean Water – Cities around the world are facing acute shortages of drinking water resources with the population in cities expected to grow exponentially to 68% by 2050. The challenge to provide clean water to those living in urban areas is only going to get harder. Every year, the water stock in Mumbai during the summer falls drastically and it had reached as low as 5.37% before the arrival of monsoon this year. This calls for a behavioral change from water-intensive lifestyles, conservation Initiatives/programs at the household and municipal level and innovate solutions to reduce water use.
- Clean land – Indian cities generate about 1.5 lakh tonnes of garbage every day, of which only one-fourth gets processed. More than 10 lakh plastic drinking bottles are purchased every minute around the world, most of which are non-recyclable. Waste generation in Mumbai has more than doubled in the last 15 years touching 11,000 tonnes per day in 2016. Untreated waste contaminates our land, water bodies and poses a serious health threat to the city’s growing population.
- Entries can either be hand-written (and scanned and e-mailed)
- Emailed
- in Pictoral form
- or in Digital/Audio /Video
- The text/ written form should not exceed 1000 words.
Entries can either be in English, Hindi or Marathi.
Each school can submit as many entries. However, each student can submit only one entry in his name.
That too, he/she has to choose any one of the themes for his submission.
Please make sure the entries are restricted to the articulation of ideas in any ONE of the three focus areas – Clean Air, Clean Water and Clean Land.
Only those Entries will be selected or shortlisted which have been nominated by the School./Educatila institution.
For seamless selection of entries and to maintain fairness, every entry should be nominated by the school/Educational (thus to be uploaded by the school administration).
No Independent Entries:
Entries which have not been supported by the School/Educational institution will stand to be rejected automatically.
You are requested to circulate the call for entries in your institution to the competition and brief them regarding the thematic areas.
Based on the entries provided at the school level for the contest, you are required to nominate the entries to the Project Mumbai selection committee – one in print form and another in digital.
Any entry beyond this date will not be accepted unless permitted by the Jury.
We will notify you of the results by March 31 st, 2020.
There will be an initial screening of the entries by team Project Mumbai.
Subsequently, the successful candidates may be invited for a short initial interaction with the Jury team to discuss their ideas.
Short-listing criteria
- Relevance to the 3 focus areas – 10%
- Clarity of thought and understanding of issues – 30%
- The articulation of the idea and its scalability -50%
- Presentation of the idea (communication style, examples used etc) – 10%
The top 15 entries in each segment (15 from Land-water-Air from the 14 to 17 age group) making it 45 in the Higher School Category and top 15 entries in each segment (15-land, 15-Water-15 Air from the Junior College segment) making this an additional 45 students will be shortlisted to attend the Conference and interact with the experts.
Every participant will get a Certificate of Participation from the organizing team as well as Project Mumbai.
The invited 90 will be presented with a Certificate signed by the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and Project Mumbai, as Green Heroes.
The selected winners will get an opportunity to attend a round table with the Hon Minister for Environment (this may either be in person or in a digital form, depending on the circumstances prevailing).
The Winners of each category will be presented with a Citation from the Environment Minister of Maharashtra.
Certificates:
Every participant will get a Certificate of Participation from the Project Mumbai
The invited 90 will be presented with a Certificate signed by the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and Project Mumbai, as Green Heroes.
Please write an email to info@projectmumbai.org
Please put in your specific query, your name, address and contact details.