The Greater Bengaluru Authority’s (GBA) Climate Action Cell is thrilled to announce the upcoming ‘Makkala Climate Action Sabhe 2025’. This dynamic, citywide event, scheduled for November 7 at the historic Sir Puttanna Chetty Town Hall, will be a powerful platform for young voices to lead crucial discussions on climate challenges.
This exciting forum will gather bright students from various schools and PU colleges throughout Bengaluru. They will engage in spirited debates and present homegrown solutions to a range of environmental concerns, including sustainable waste management, responsible water usage, the adoption of renewable energy, and the preservation of biodiversity. Guiding this impactful initiative is Preeti Gehlot, Special Commissioner for Forests, Environment, Climate Change (FECC), Disaster Management, Public Relations, and Coordination. Her vision is clear: to ensure that ‘young voices are at the very heart of Bengaluru’s climate action endeavors.’
The response to the Climate Action Sabhe has been overwhelmingly positive, with the Climate Action Cell receiving an impressive 85 registrations from schools and PU colleges spanning all five municipal corporations. Rigorous preliminary selection rounds, conducted from October 28 to 30 at the GBA head office, assessed student clubs on their depth of understanding, active engagement, and eloquence in articulating critical climate themes. Ultimately, 20 outstanding Climate Action Clubs, representing educational institutions from every city corporation, earned their spot in the highly anticipated final city-level debate.
Citizens Rally for Walkable City: Highlighting Footpath Importance
In a parallel effort to enhance urban living, the GBA organized the ‘Rajyotsava Padachari Nadige – 11K’ on Saturday, November 1st, coinciding with Karnataka Rajyotsava. This 11-kilometer citizen walk aimed to underscore the critical importance of well-maintained footpaths and to champion the vision of a truly ‘walkable city.’
More than 75 enthusiastic citizens joined the early-morning walk, commencing their journey from Vidhana Soudha. This hands-on event provided participants with a unique opportunity to directly experience Bengaluru’s pedestrian infrastructure and evaluate its walkability. Participants actively rated footpaths, identifying common obstacles like construction debris, accumulated garbage, broken paving slabs, misplaced utility poles, and fallen trees, gathering crucial insights for future improvements.