In this episode of "A Tryst with Statecraft," we are joined by Soham Kshirsagar from the Office of the G20 Sherpa and the World Resources Institute India. The conversation delves into Soham's experiences and insights, shedding light on the intersection of youth engagement, climate policy, and energy transition. We begin by exploring Soham's role within the G20 Sherpa Office, discussing the nature of his involvement and the early career experiences that paved the way for his current position. Soham reflects on his research specialisation and the impactful outputs achieved during his tenure. The discussion then moves to the critical topic of youth engagement in climate policy. As a younger member of the G20 Sherpa team, Soham shares his observations on how youth voices are influencing climate decisions and highlights successful instances of intergenerational collaboration within the team. Transitioning to his role at the World Resources Institute India, Soham offers valuable insights into the potential of hydrogen as a future fuel. He elaborates on India's ambitious net zero target for 2070 and outlines the roadmap for transitioning to greener fuels. Soham also addresses the concerns of young listeners, providing guidance on how they can position themselves to leverage opportunities in the burgeoning green hydrogen sector and drive the future of energy transition. Finally, in keeping with our tradition, we ask Soham to look ahead and identify the most promising avenues for youth to influence global climate policy. He offers practical advice on how young people can prepare themselves to take on leadership roles in the climate policy space. Tune in to gain a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic role of youth in shaping climate policy and the future of energy transition.

In Season 3, Episode 2 of "A Tryst with Statecraft," we delve into the dynamic and essential role of youth in climate change advocacy. Hosted by Teresa Kuruvila from the Editorial Board, this episode features a compelling conversation with Abhiir Bhalla, a renowned youth environmentalist and sustainability consultant. Together, they explore the challenges and opportunities in driving climate action in India, especially among the younger generation. Episode Highlights: Climate Change and Electoral Importance: Despite the alarming rates of air pollution in tier 1 cities and other environmental hazards, climate change continues to receive minimal electoral attention in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. Abhiir discusses strategies to elevate the urgency of climate change in the minds of voters and underscores the critical role youth can play in this transformation. Balancing Development and Conservation: As debates on “climate debt” and the responsibilities of developed versus developing countries intensify, Abhiir offers insights into whether India should prioritize development over environmental conservation or strive for a balanced approach that addresses both crucial aspects. Effective Strategies for Air Pollution Mitigation: Air pollution is a central focus of Abhiir's advocacy. He shares the most effective strategies for promoting behaviour change, particularly among youth, and reflects on the challenges and surprising insights encountered in influencing public attitudes. Environmental Justice and Marginalized Communities: Addressing environmental justice is vital for sustainable development. Abhiir discusses how sustainability initiatives can be tailored to address the concerns of marginalized or vulnerable communities, ensuring equitable benefits from environmental improvements. Actionable Advice for Young Activists: Drawing from his extensive experience as a sustainability consultant and policy advocate, Abhiir provides actionable advice for young activists and aspiring environmentalists eager to make meaningful contributions to environmental protection and sustainability. Key Takeaways from the Episode: The need to make climate change an election issue by focusing on party manifestos. Strategies for community-driven behaviour change to ensure political responsiveness to air pollution. Insights into the Global North vs. Global South climate change debate and the critical role of climate finance. The importance of youth-led initiatives and Abhiir's experiences in climate education and media advocacy. Practical avenues to elevate climate change as a priority by grassroots engagement and community-led dialogues. Tune in to gain valuable perspectives on youth-led climate advocacy and discover how you can contribute to creating sustainable communities. This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about environmental issues and eager to drive change.

In the first episode of the third season of A Tryst with Statecraft by Project Statecraft, Teresa Kuruvila, our host, sits down with Heeta Lakhani, Founder & Director of The ClimAct Initiative and Co-Founder of the Youth Negotiators Academy. The third season explores the unique connection and perspective of youth working and achieving milestones in the climate space. This episode, "Involving and Empowering Youth in Climate Negotiations Inclusively," delves into the pivotal role of youth in shaping the future of climate action and negotiations. Heeta Lakhani shares her innovative approach to climate education in India, focusing on empowering young people through sustainable daily practices, from mindful consumption to effective waste management at the community level. She advocates for a shift in mindset among schools, parents, and students to elevate the importance of climate education as an academic subject. The discussion highlights Heeta's efforts with the Youth Negotiators Academy to include and empower youth in global climate negotiations. She explains how young people can bring sustainable practices from the fringes to the mainstream and reshape the predominant narratives on climate change, emphasizing the impacts and undeniable effects on our biodiversity and environment rather than just emissions. Heeta and Teresa explore the concept of learning and unlearning in the context of climate change, addressing the unique hurdles Indian youth face in becoming a powerful demographic advocating for climate action. Heeta contrasts the policy inclusion for youth in India with that in developed economies, underscoring the differences in ecosystems and the crucial need for India to navigate this policy landscape effectively. Tune in to this episode for an enlightening conversation on the holistic approach to climate education and the critical role of youth in driving sustainable change and influencing global climate policies.

Join us for a compelling episode where we delve into the vital topic of Gender Equity in Technology Access, uncovering the challenges and uncovering opportunities for enhancing livelihoods. Our guest, Mousumi Kabiraj, a Research Analyst at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), brings invaluable insights from her work on gender inclusion in energy-livelihood sectors. What to Expect in This Episode: Identifying the Barriers: We begin by discussing the significant hurdles that women encounter in accessing and utilizing technology for their livelihoods. Mousumi sheds light on the socio-economic, cultural, and infrastructural challenges that persist. Policy Solutions: Explore the effective strategies and policies that can promote gender equity in technology access. Mousumi highlights impactful initiatives that have successfully empowered women through technology. Impact Across Spheres: How does the disparity in technology access affect women's opportunities in education, employment, and healthcare? We look at how these inequalities affect various facets of life. Reaching the Unreached: Mousumi discusses ways to ensure that technology reaches not only urban women but also those in remote and rural regions, fostering inclusivity and equal opportunities. The Power of Digital Literacy: Discover how digital literacy can empower women, bridge the technology gap, and create a more equitable digital landscape. Inclusive Tech Development: We conclude by examining the impact of gender diversity in the tech industry and discussing approaches to develop more inclusive technologies. Meet Our Guest: Mousumi Kabiraj is not only a researcher but a passionate advocate for empowering women through innovative and sustainable technology solutions. Her experiences range from grassroots projects in rural India to influential policy-making discussions, making her a formidable voice in the drive for gender equity. Mousumi is a Research Analyst in the Powering Livelihoods team at The Council. She is involved in ideating, researching, and writing knowledge products about the best practices to effectively integrate gender inclusion among energy-livelihood businesses. Before joining The Council, Mousumi worked with Indian Grameen Services. She primarily focused on developing project ideas on natural resource-based, climate-resilient and gender-focused livelihood opportunities for rural communities. In addition, she was engaged as a researcher in the GiZ project to assess the potential of renewable energy interventions in the fishery value chain in West Bengal, India. Mousumi is also a Fellow at the Young Women Leaders Fellowship, a 6-month program conducted by The Red Door to nurture young women leaders in the areas of gender, disability, mental health, and sexuality. During her tenure, she participated in 'The Red Door Resilience Project' and designed modules for the Resilience Building workshop from a gender lens for young girls in Madhya Pradesh. Mousumi holds a postgraduate degree in Conservation and Livelihood Management from the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Madhya Pradesh, and an undergraduate degree in Mathematics Honours from the University of Calcutta. During her Masters, she interned with the Foundation for Ecological Security to conduct the longitudinal assessment of Satkosia Watershed in Odisha. Along with, assessing the impact of watershed management on empowering women by applying the Women Empowerment Index developed by The Hunger Project. We invite you to listen, learn, and engage with us as we tackle these crucial issues together, striving for a future where technology access is truly equitable. Join the conversation and be part of the change!

In this episode of Tryst with Statecraft, titled "Policy for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods," we delve into the heart of rural India, exploring the dynamics of sustainable livelihoods against the backdrop of the country's economic and social landscapes. Join us as our host, Loveneet, Associate Editor at Project Statecraft, engages in a thought-provoking conversation with our distinguished guest, Ms. Divya Gaur, Programme Associate, Powering Livelihood, at the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water. 1. Understanding Sustainable Rural Livelihoods: We kick off the episode with Divya breaking down the concept of sustainable rural livelihoods, providing a comprehensive view of how these livelihoods are defined within the unique context of rural India's economic and social settings. 2. Impact of Policy Changes and Government Initiatives: Recent agricultural reforms have stirred nationwide protests and discussions. Divya shares her insights into how these policy shifts and government initiatives are impacting sustainable rural livelihoods. Her expertise sheds light on how clean energy can catalyze enhancing these livelihoods, offering a ray of hope amidst the controversies. 3. Empowering Through Clean Energy: The conversation then navigates towards the critical issue of labor force participation among women and other genders in rural areas. Divya discusses the transformative power of clean energy in empowering women and creating new livelihood opportunities, backed by compelling examples from her field experiences. 4. Reaching the Unreached: As many clean energy technologies are designed for rural and remote areas, our guests ponder over the strategies to ensure these innovations reach those who need them the most. This segment explores the challenges of accessibility and the steps needed to bridge the gap between technology and its beneficiaries. 5. Overcoming Barriers: Lastly, the episode addresses the hurdles hindering the adoption of sustainable practices in rural India. Divya offers practical solutions and forward-thinking approaches to overcome these obstacles, paving the way for a more sustainable and prosperous rural India. Through this episode, "Policy for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods," listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the complexities and opportunities within rural India's pursuit of sustainability. Join Loveneet and Divya as they unravel the layers of policy, technology, and community engagement essential for fostering sustainable rural livelihoods. Guest Profile:  Divya Gaur is a social impact professional focussed on working towards augmenting the positive socio-economic environmental changes at the grassroots level with a data-driven approach. At The Council, Divya is a part of the Powering Livelihoods team and looks into the impact measurement and integrating gender inclusivity in the design of the initiative. Previously, Divya has worked with Sattva Consulting as a Social Impact Consultant in their Impact Measurement and Advisory team, where she evaluated multiple development programs implemented by social sector organizations and helped maximize their impact on the ground through data-driven decision-making. Divya is also an entrepreneurship enthusiast and has conceptualized ideas at the intersection of women empowerment and sustainability such as zero waste and sustainable clothing. Divya also supports social enterprises that focus on gender inclusion, for design and implementation, on a pro bono basis. Divya holds a Master's in Economics from TERI University and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Delhi University.

Season 2 | Episode 1 In the premiere episode of the second season titled Reaching Communities, Bridging Identities, the podcast - A Tryst with Statecraft ventured into the complexities of policy-making through the experienced lens of Teres Sajeev, a Convergence Consultant with the Government of Tamil Nadu. Hosted by Teresa Kuruvila, this episode unfolded an in-depth exploration of how diverse identities and communities are incorporated into the policy-making landscape. The dialogue initiated with a critical examination of representation within policy formulation, revealing Teres's insights on the disproportionate representation of certain groups and its ramifications on societal progress. She posited open public involvement as a potential catalyst for more equitable and sustainable growth across the nation. As the conversation advanced, sustainability and community development emerged as focal points, underscoring the intrinsic link between these aspects and effective policy-making. Teres illuminated the challenges and opportunities in integrating sustainability with policies, especially in India's rural contexts, and proposed ways to achieve balance among economic, social, and environmental objectives while ensuring inclusive community participation and gender parity. The episode also tackled the engagement of the youth in public policy, spotlighting their heightened interest during periods of media-amplified governmental issues. Teres shared her perspective on the evident detachment among young adults from the policy-making process due to its political connotations and offered encouragement for their active involvement, highlighting the transformative potential awaiting them. If the discussion allowed, Teres was asked to identify a specific community development policy in need of critical reassessment, providing thoughtful reflections on necessary amendments. The episode wrapped up with Teres discussing her contribution to a Times of India article that acclaimed Tamil Nadu's strides in gender parity. This segment offered listeners a glimpse into her research and the significant impact of her work on policy inclusivity and women's empowerment. "Reaching Communities, Bridging Identities" served as a compelling narrative, blending Teres Sajeev's professional journey and insightful analyses with the series' overarching theme of examining public policy and development through the voices of young professionals in India.